Group training based on acceptance-commitment approach for improving quality of life and reducing anxiety among diabetic women

The Comorbidity of diabetes with psychological disorders negatively intensifies the symptoms of diabetic patients, reduces their response to treatment, decreases their life quality and consequently increases their mortality rate. The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of group training based on acceptance and commitment in improving quality of life and reducing anxiety in diabetics. The present controlled experimental study was conducted using pretests and posttests. The statistical population comprised all women with diabetes presenting to a medical diagnostic laboratory in Shahriar, Iran. Convenience sampling was used to select highly anxious diabetics, who were assigned to experimental and control groups. The depression anxiety stress scale was used to measure anxiety and the SF-36 to assess quality of life in the samples. The 15-session protocol proposed by Eifert was also used for the group training of the concepts, principles and techniques of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The results obtained suggested significant differences between the experimental and control groups in terms of anxiety and quality of life. In fact, acceptance and commitment based group training significantly reduced anxiety and improved quality of life in women with diabetes. Interventions for teaching the concepts, principles and techniques of ACT increased quality of life and reduced anxiety in women with diabetes. Teaching these concepts therefore can comprise a major mechanism for improving the process of healthy mental growth of women.