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The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Social Self-Efficacy and Social Anxiety of the Elderly in Bardsir City
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Amirhossein Tanavardi   , Eshrat Karimi * |
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Abstract: (24 Views) |
Introduction: Aging is a sensitive period in which examining various aspects of mental health becomes very important. Anxiety and self-efficacy are factors that can have a significant impact on their mental health during old age. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on social anxiety and social self-efficacy of the elderly in Bardsir City.
Method: The research method was a quasi-experimental, pre-test, post-test with a control group. The statistical population included all the elderly in Bardsir city in 2025, of which 30 people (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group) were selected by convenience sampling. The data collection tools were the Connor, Davidson, and Churchill (2000) social anxiety questionnaire and Smith and Betts (2000) social self-efficacy questionnaire. Acceptance and commitment therapy intervention was performed on the experimental group in 10 90-minute sessions twice a week, and the control group did not receive any intervention. Data analysis was performed using descriptive tests (mean and standard deviation) and analysis of covariance using SPSS version 24. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: In the social anxiety variable, the mean and standard deviation of the experimental group at pre-test was 40.92 ± 4.74 and at post-test was 29.82 ± 3.37, and in the social self-efficacy variable, the mean and standard deviation of the experimental group at pre-test was 36.19 ± 7.40 and at post-test was 68.59 ± 6.43. The results of the analysis of covariance also showed that acceptance and commitment therapy had an effect on social anxiety and social self-efficacy of the elderly (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Based on the research findings, the exercises in acceptance and commitment therapy increase the performance and mental activities involved in cognitive rehabilitation, and as a result, improve the cognitive abilities of the elderly, such as social self-efficacy, and reduce anxiety problems, including social anxiety.
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| Keywords: Acceptance and commitment therapy, social self-efficacy, social anxiety, elderly. |
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Type of Study: Original research |
Subject:
Eldely mental and psychological issues
Received: 2025/09/23 | Accepted: 2026/02/15 | Published: 2026/02/15
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