Comparing the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment-Based and Mindfulness-Based Interventions on High-Risk Behaviors, Life Orientation, and Procrastination among Adolescents in Conflict with Their Parents
Keywords:
Parent–adolescent conflict, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, High-risk behaviors, Procrastination, Life orientationAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based training in reducing high-risk behaviors and procrastination and enhancing optimistic life orientation among adolescents experiencing parent–adolescent conflict.
Methods and Materials: This true-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest control group design. The statistical population consisted of 11th- and 12th-grade adolescents referred to the Karaj Education Counseling Center during the 2022–2023 academic year, from whom 45 participants were randomly selected and assigned to three groups (ACT, mindfulness, control; n=15 each). Measures included the Iranian Adolescents Risk-Taking Scale, the Life Orientation Test–Revised, and the Tuckman Procrastination Scale. The ACT and mindfulness interventions were delivered in 10 weekly group sessions (90 minutes for ACT; 75 minutes for mindfulness). Data were analyzed using mixed factorial ANOVA.
Findings: Mixed factorial ANOVA revealed significant main effects of time and significant time × group interaction effects for high-risk behaviors, life orientation, and procrastination (P<0.05). Significant main effects of group were also observed across all dependent variables. Tukey post hoc comparisons indicated that both ACT and mindfulness groups demonstrated significantly lower high-risk behaviors and procrastination and significantly higher life orientation compared to the control group, with no significant differences between the two intervention groups.
Conclusion: Both ACT and mindfulness-based interventions were effective in improving psychological functioning among adolescents experiencing parent–adolescent conflict, suggesting their utility as structured preventive and therapeutic approaches for reducing maladaptive behaviors and strengthening positive life orientation.
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