Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Promoting Mental Health of Emerging Adults With Internet Addiction
Internet addiction, a growing epidemic among young adults, significantly impairs mental health, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. The pervasive overuse of digital technologies-particularly smartphones, social media, and the internet-has led to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and social isolation in this demographic. Traditional therapeutic interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) fail to address the underlying psychological processes contributing to addiction. This research explores the potential of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-a mindfulness-based, values-driven approach-as an effective treatment for internet addiction in young adults. By enhancing psychological flexibility, ACT aims to reduce addictive behaviors while promoting better emotional regulation and mental resilience. The study will assess the efficacy of ACT in improving mental health and mitigating internet addiction within a culturally relevant context for Pakistani youth.
Introduction and Problem Statement:
Young adulthood is a pivotal developmental phase (18-29 years), during which individuals are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of internet addiction. Excessive use of smartphones, the internet, and social media has become a ubiquitous issue, severely affecting the academic, social, and emotional well-being of young adults. While internet addiction is increasingly prevalent in Pakistan, with studies indicating that 25-35% of the youth are affected, conventional therapeutic models like CBT predominantly focus on symptom management rather than the psychological underpinnings of addictive behaviors. This research aims to fill a critical gap by investigating the application of ACT, which has shown promise in treating various forms of addiction, to internet addiction specifically.
Literature Review:
The relationship between internet addiction and mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and stress has been well-documented. Recent studies by Moreno et al. (2022) and Ghali et al. (2023) underscore the profound psychological consequences of excessive internet and social media use in young adults. In contrast to CBT, ACT focuses on enhancing psychological flexibility-the ability to accept distressing thoughts and feelings while pursuing value-driven actions. ACT has been shown to improve emotional regulation, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and enhance mindfulness, making it a promising intervention for internet addiction. This research builds on the foundational work of Swain et al. (2015) and Googhari et al. (2022), who demonstrated the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions, including ACT, in enhancing mental health outcomes.
Rationale:
Internet addiction is not only a growing public health crisis but also a barrier to personal development and social integration in young adults. While traditional therapies like CBT focus on symptom reduction, they do not sufficiently address the cognitive and emotional mechanisms that drive addictive behaviors. ACT offers a more comprehensive approach by fostering psychological flexibility and emotional resilience-key factors in the recovery from addiction. Moreover, ACT's adaptability to diverse cultural contexts makes it an ideal intervention for Pakistan's rapidly digitalizing youth population. This research seeks to evaluate ACT's effectiveness in reducing internet addiction and improving mental health outcomes in this group.
Research Objectives and Hypotheses:
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ACT in reducing internet addiction and enhancing mental health among emerging adults in Pakistan. The specific objectives are to:
- Assess the impact of ACT on internet addiction behaviors (smartphone, internet, social media).
- Evaluate improvements in mental health, including reductions in depression, anxiety, and impulsivity.
- Examine changes in emotional regulation, mindfulness, and psychological flexibility.
Hypotheses:
- The experimental group will exhibit a significant reduction in internet addiction behaviors at post-test compared to the control group.
- The experimental group will demonstrate substantial improvements in mental health indicators-specifically in reducing depression, anxiety, and impulsivity.
- ACT will lead to enhanced psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and emotional regulation in the experimental group relative to the control group.
Research Design and Methodology:
The study will employ a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with pre- and post-test assessments. The sample will consist of 100 emerging adults(ages 18-29), with 50 participants in the experimental group and 50 in the control group. Participants will be recruited via social media platforms, using a snowball sampling technique. Inclusion criteria include self-reported internet addiction and high scores on screening tools.
Visão geral do estudo
Status
Condições
Intervenção / Tratamento
Descrição detalhada
Internet addiction, a growing epidemic among young adults, significantly impairs mental health, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. The pervasive overuse of digital technologies-particularly smartphones, social media, and the internet-has led to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and social isolation in this demographic. Traditional therapeutic interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) fail to address the underlying psychological processes contributing to addiction. This research explores the potential of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-a mindfulness-based, values-driven approach-as an effective treatment for internet addiction in young adults. By enhancing psychological flexibility, ACT aims to reduce addictive behaviors while promoting better emotional regulation and mental resilience. The study will assess the efficacy of ACT in improving mental health and mitigating internet addiction within a culturally relevant context for Pakistani youth.
Introduction and Problem Statement:
Young adulthood is a pivotal developmental phase (18-29 years), during which individuals are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of internet addiction. Excessive use of smartphones, the internet, and social media has become a ubiquitous issue, severely affecting the academic, social, and emotional well-being of young adults. While internet addiction is increasingly prevalent in Pakistan, with studies indicating that 25-35% of the youth are affected, conventional therapeutic models like CBT predominantly focus on symptom management rather than the psychological underpinnings of addictive behaviors. This research aims to fill a critical gap by investigating the application of ACT, which has shown promise in treating various forms of addiction, to internet addiction specifically.
Literature Review:
The relationship between internet addiction and mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and stress has been well-documented. Recent studies by Moreno et al. (2022) and Ghali et al. (2023) underscore the profound psychological consequences of excessive internet and social media use in young adults. In contrast to CBT, ACT focuses on enhancing psychological flexibility-the ability to accept distressing thoughts and feelings while pursuing value-driven actions. ACT has been shown to improve emotional regulation, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and enhance mindfulness, making it a promising intervention for internet addiction. This research builds on the foundational work of Swain et al. (2015) and Googhari et al. (2022), who demonstrated the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions, including ACT, in enhancing mental health outcomes.
Rationale:
Internet addiction is not only a growing public health crisis but also a barrier to personal development and social integration in young adults. While traditional therapies like CBT focus on symptom reduction, they do not sufficiently address the cognitive and emotional mechanisms that drive addictive behaviors. ACT offers a more comprehensive approach by fostering psychological flexibility and emotional resilience-key factors in the recovery from addiction. Moreover, ACT's adaptability to diverse cultural contexts makes it an ideal intervention for Pakistan's rapidly digitalizing youth population. This research seeks to evaluate ACT's effectiveness in reducing internet addiction and improving mental health outcomes in this group.
Research Objectives and Hypotheses:
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ACT in reducing internet addiction and enhancing mental health among emerging adults in Pakistan. The specific objectives are to:
- Assess the impact of ACT on internet addiction behaviors (smartphone, internet, social media).
- Evaluate improvements in mental health, including reductions in depression, anxiety, and impulsivity.
- Examine changes in emotional regulation, mindfulness, and psychological flexibility.
Hypotheses:
- The experimental group will exhibit a significant reduction in internet addiction behaviors at post-test compared to the control group.
- The experimental group will demonstrate substantial improvements in mental health indicators-specifically in reducing depression, anxiety, and impulsivity.
- ACT will lead to enhanced psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and emotional regulation in the experimental group relative to the control group.
Research Design and Methodology:
The study will employ a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with pre- and post-test assessments. The sample will consist of 100 emerging adults(ages 18-29), with 50 participants in the experimental group and 50 in the control group. Participants will be recruited via social media platforms, using a snowball sampling technique. Inclusion criteria include self-reported internet addiction and high scores on screening tools. Participants with severe mental health disorders or undergoing other psychological treatments will be excluded.
Phases:
- Phase 1: Screening and selection of participants, followed by the translation and adaptation of ACT tools and screening measures for the Pakistani context.
- Phase 2: Intervention, which will consist of 8-10 weekly ACT sessions focusing on increasing psychological flexibility and emotional regulation.
- Phase 3: Post-test evaluation of internet addiction behaviors and mental health outcomes, followed by a follow-up assessment.
Data Analysis and Expected Outcomes:
Statistical analyses will include ANCOVA to compare post-test results between the experimental and control groups, as well as repeated measures ANOVA to evaluate within-group changes. The study expects to demonstrate that ACT significantly reduces internet addiction and improves mental health outcomes, including depression, impulsivity, emotional regulation, and mindfulness.
Implications and Future Directions:
The findings from this study could have significant implications for public health policies related to mental health and internet use among young adults. By demonstrating the effectiveness of ACT, the research could contribute to the development of more targeted, mindfulness-based interventions for addressing internet addiction in Pakistan. Additionally, future research may explore the long-term effects of ACT on addiction and its broader applicability to other forms of behavioral addictions, such as gaming and compulsive internet use.
Tipo de estudo
Inscrição (Real)
Estágio
- Não aplicável
Contactos e Locais
Locais de estudo
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Islamabad, Paquistão, 46000
- NUML
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Critérios de participação
Critérios de elegibilidade
Idades elegíveis para estudo
- Adulto
Aceita Voluntários Saudáveis
Descrição
Inclusion Criteria:
- willing to participate Enrolled in universities
Exclusion Criteria:
- failing to inclusion
Plano de estudo
Como o estudo é projetado?
Detalhes do projeto
- Finalidade Principal: Tratamento
- Alocação: Randomizado
- Modelo Intervencional: Atribuição Paralela
- Mascaramento: Nenhum (rótulo aberto)
Armas e Intervenções
Grupo de Participantes / Braço |
Intervenção / Tratamento |
|---|---|
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Experimental: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Participants received a culturally adapted Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention designed to reduce Internet Addiction and improve psychological functioning among emerging adults.
The intervention was delivered according to the study protocol.
|
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a culturally adapted behavioral intervention for emerging adults with Internet Addiction.
The intervention focuses on enhancing psychological flexibility through acceptance, cognitive defusion, mindfulness, values clarification, self-as-context, and committed action.
Participants attended structured therapy sessions delivered according to the study protocol.
Outros nomes:
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Sem intervenção: Wait-list Control
Participants assigned to the wait-list control group did not receive the ACT intervention during the study period.
They completed all study assessments and were offered the intervention after completion of the trial.
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O que o estudo está medindo?
Medidas de resultados primários
Medida de resultado |
Descrição da medida |
Prazo |
|---|---|---|
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Change in Internet Addiction Test Total Score
Prazo: Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention (Post-intervention, approximately 8 weeks)
|
Internet addiction was assessed using the Chen Internet Addiction Scale.
The scale contains 26 items scored from 1 to 4. Item scores are summed to produce a total score ranging from 26 to 104.
Higher scores indicate more severe internet addiction and therefore a worse outcome.
A reduction from baseline indicates improvement.
|
Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention (Post-intervention, approximately 8 weeks)
|
Medidas de resultados secundários
Medida de resultado |
Descrição da medida |
Prazo |
|---|---|---|
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Change in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Total Score
Prazo: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after completion of the ACT intervention (post-intervention)
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Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9.
The scale contains nine items scored from 0 to 3. Item scores are summed to produce a total score ranging from 0 to 27.
Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms and therefore a worse outcome.
A reduction from baseline indicates improvement.
|
Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after completion of the ACT intervention (post-intervention)
|
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Change in Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II Total Score
Prazo: Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
|
Psychological inflexibility was assessed using the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II.
The seven items are scored from 1 to 7 and summed to produce a total score ranging from 7 to 49.
Higher scores indicate greater psychological inflexibility or experiential avoidance and therefore a worse outcome.
A reduction from baseline indicates improvement.
|
Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
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Change in Attentional Control Scale Total Score
Prazo: Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
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Attentional control was assessed using the Attentional Control Scale.
The scale contains 20 items scored from 1 to 4. After reverse-scoring the applicable items, responses are summed to produce a total score ranging from 20 to 80. Higher scores indicate better attentional control and therefore a better outcome.
An increase from baseline indicates improvement.
|
Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
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Change in Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire-5 Total Score
Prazo: Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
|
Cognitive fusion was assessed using the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire - 5. The five items are scored from 1 to 7 and summed to produce a total score ranging from 5 to 35.
Higher scores indicate greater cognitive fusion, meaning that thoughts have a stronger influence over behavior, and therefore represent a worse outcome.
A reduction from baseline indicates improvement.
|
Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
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Change in Emotion Regulation Questionnaire Subscale Scores
Prazo: Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
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Emotion regulation was assessed using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. This 10-item instrument produces two separate scores; a single total score is not calculated. The Cognitive Reappraisal subscale contains six items scored from 1 to 7, producing a score ranging from 6 to 42. Higher scores indicate greater use of cognitive reappraisal and are interpreted as a better outcome. The Expressive Suppression subscale contains four items scored from 1 to 7, producing a score ranging from 4 to 28. Higher scores indicate greater use of expressive suppression and are interpreted as a worse outcome. An increase in cognitive reappraisal and a reduction in expressive suppression indicate improvement. |
Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
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Change in Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-14 Total Score
Prazo: Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
|
Mindfulness was assessed using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-14.
The 14 items are scored from 1 to 5.
After reverse-scoring the applicable items, responses are summed to produce a total score ranging from 14 to 70.
Higher scores indicate greater mindfulness and therefore a better outcome.
An increase from baseline indicates improvement.
|
Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
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Change in Impulsive Behavior Short Scale-8 Subscale Scores
Prazo: Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
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Impulsivity was assessed using the Impulsive Behavior Short Scale-8.
The instrument contains eight items and measures four dimensions: urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, and risk appetite.
Each dimension contains two items.
After reverse-scoring the applicable items, the mean for each subscale is calculated, producing a score ranging from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate a greater level of the corresponding impulsive tendency and are interpreted as a worse outcome in this study.
A reduction from baseline indicates improvement.
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Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
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Change in Rational Behavior Inventory Total Score
Prazo: Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
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Rational beliefs were assessed using the Rational Behavior Inventory.
The scale contains 37 items scored from 1 to 5.
After reverse-scoring the applicable items, responses are summed to produce a total score ranging from 37 to 185.
Higher scores indicate more rational beliefs and attitudes and therefore a better outcome.
An increase from baseline indicates improvement.
|
Baseline (pre-intervention) to immediately post-intervention.
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Colaboradores e Investigadores
Patrocinador
Investigadores
- Cadeira de estudo: Asia Mushtaq, PhD, National University of Modern Languages
Publicações e links úteis
Publicações Gerais
- Bond FW, Hayes SC, Baer RA, Carpenter KM, Guenole N, Orcutt HK, Waltz T, Zettle RD. Preliminary psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II: a revised measure of psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance. Behav Ther. 2011 Dec;42(4):676-88. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2011.03.007. Epub 2011 May 25.
- Young KS. Internet Addiction: The emergence of a new clinical disorder. CyberPsychol Behav. 1998.
- Hayes SC, Strosahl KD, Wilson KG. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford Press; 2012.
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- Syed Shahabal 12 PhD/Psy/F23
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