Evaluating the core processes of a hybrid trauma-informed acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for college students

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is based on the psychological flexibility model, underpinned by six core processes: contact with the present moment, acceptance, cognitive defusion, self as context, values, and committed action. The current study examined the roles of these processes in the first randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of a mental health promotion intervention for college students based on Trauma-Focused ACT (TFACT; Ajayi et al., 2024; Harris, 2021). The hybrid intervention combined web-based modules with peer coaching in a research laboratory setting. This current study aimed to extend those findings by empirically evaluating the theoretical components of the ACT model of psychological flexibility. Participants were 78 college students ranging between 18 and 32 years of age. It was found that the level of changes in awareness, self as context, values, and committed action were significantly different between the intervention and control groups, while psychological inflexibility, acceptance, and cognitive fusion were not. Simple regressions suggested that changes in psychological inflexibility significantly predicted changes in life satisfaction at post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. Whereas, changes in psychological inflexibility predicted changes in psychological distress only at follow-up. Furthermore, penalized regressions suggested awareness and cognitive fusion significantly predicted changes in psychological distress, but did not predict changes in psychological inflexibility or life satisfaction. The current study adds to the knowledge base regarding the process of change in ACT interventions to inform the design and implementation of more targeted and effective mental health interventions.