CHFA | Psychology Department Showcase: Completed Projects
The Effectiveness of an ACT App in Promoting Wellbeing and Psychological Flexibility
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Psychology/Applied Behavior Analysis
Minor
Nonprofit Leadership Studies
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Michael Bordieri, PhD
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
While mental health apps could potentially increase access to mental health resources, only 3.05% of depression and anxiety apps on the Apple App store had published research support as of 2018 (Marshall et al., 2019). The present study aims to evaluate an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) mental health app. ACT aims to cultivate psychological flexibility, the ability to fully experience and accept one’s present context while engaging in behavior that aligns with one’s values (Hayes et al., 2006). Gloster et al. (2020) reviewed ACT metanalyses and found it to be efficacious for a range of conditions. Additionally, Wersebe et al. (2018) found increases in psychological flexibility to be positively associated with increases in wellbeing during an ACT self-help intervention. Because higher levels of wellbeing may be protective against the development of psychopathology (Grant et al., 2013; Wood & Joseph, 2010), an effective ACT app could benefit individuals with and without symptoms of mental illness. “ACT Coach” will be evaluated for effectiveness in promoting psychological flexibility and wellbeing while simultaneously examining levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in a college student sample. Participants have been randomized to an experimental app group and a waitlist control group, and data collection is in progress. Hypotheses include that the experimental app group will show greater increases in psychological flexibility and wellbeing and greater decreases in depression, anxiety, and stress. It is also hypothesized that those higher in self-compassion at pre-intervention will report a longer duration of app use.
Location
Waterfield Gallery
Start Date
November 2021
End Date
November 2021
Fall Scholars Week 2021 Event
Psychology: Completed Projects
The Effectiveness of an ACT App in Promoting Wellbeing and Psychological Flexibility
Waterfield Gallery
While mental health apps could potentially increase access to mental health resources, only 3.05% of depression and anxiety apps on the Apple App store had published research support as of 2018 (Marshall et al., 2019). The present study aims to evaluate an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) mental health app. ACT aims to cultivate psychological flexibility, the ability to fully experience and accept one’s present context while engaging in behavior that aligns with one’s values (Hayes et al., 2006). Gloster et al. (2020) reviewed ACT metanalyses and found it to be efficacious for a range of conditions. Additionally, Wersebe et al. (2018) found increases in psychological flexibility to be positively associated with increases in wellbeing during an ACT self-help intervention. Because higher levels of wellbeing may be protective against the development of psychopathology (Grant et al., 2013; Wood & Joseph, 2010), an effective ACT app could benefit individuals with and without symptoms of mental illness. “ACT Coach” will be evaluated for effectiveness in promoting psychological flexibility and wellbeing while simultaneously examining levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in a college student sample. Participants have been randomized to an experimental app group and a waitlist control group, and data collection is in progress. Hypotheses include that the experimental app group will show greater increases in psychological flexibility and wellbeing and greater decreases in depression, anxiety, and stress. It is also hypothesized that those higher in self-compassion at pre-intervention will report a longer duration of app use.