Group Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) With Healthy Older Adults
Condition: Aging; Quality of Life
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The current study aims to explore the impact of a two-session group Acceptance and Commitment
      Therapy (ACT) intervention compared to an assessment-only control on psychological outcomes
      in healthy older adults. The proposed study has two main objectives.

        1. Examine the impact the intervention on targeted ACT processes over time

        2. Examine the impact of the intervention on aspects of eudaimonic well-being over time
    

Detailed description: 
      Older adults are a growing segment of our population, and this period of life presents a
      variety of physical, emotional, environmental, and cognitive changes, even for healthy
      individuals. The current study aims to explore the impact of a two-session group Acceptance
      and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention compared to an assessment-only control on
      psychological outcomes in healthy, community-dwelling older adults.

      Participants will be randomly assigned (stratified by sex) to the ACT group condition or to
      an assessment-only control group. After randomization, those in the assessment-only control
      group will be asked to complete four assessments via mail (baseline, one-month, three-month,
      and six-month). The intervention group will participate in a brief group ACT intervention
      occurring over two sessions (90 minutes each, approximately one week apart). Intervention
      participants will also complete assessments at baseline and at one-month, three-months, and
      six-months post-intervention.

      The specific aims and hypotheses of the current study are:

      Specific Aim #1: To examine longitudinal between-group differences in targeted ACT processes
      including psychological flexibility (openness to experience, behavioral awareness, and valued
      action) and satisfaction with social roles and activities from baseline to follow-up. We
      hypothesize that there will be significant time by group interaction, such that psychological
      flexibility and satisfaction with social roles and activities will increase significantly
      more in the intervention group relative to the assessment-only control group.

      Specific Aim #2: To examine longitudinal between-group differences in eudaimonic well-being
      (purpose in life and personal growth) from baseline to follow-up. We hypothesize that there
      will be significant time by group interactions, such that purpose in life and personal growth
      will increase significantly more in the intervention group relative to the assessment-only
      control group.
    

Intervention name(s): Acceptance and Commitment Training
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is an acceptance- and mindfulness-based psychotherapy that aims to foster psychological flexibility.
Other intervention name(s): Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; ACT
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: Participants will be randomized (stratified by sex) to either the ACT workshop group or to the assessment-only control group. Participants in the ACT group will complete two 90-minute group workshops (scheduled approximately one week apart) and will complete a baseline, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up assessment. Participants in the time-matched assessment only-group will complete assessments at baseline, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Older Adult; Psychological Well-being; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Brief interventions; Psychological flexibility