The effectiveness of an academic stress management program based on ACT: Focused on university students with socially prescribed perfectionism and trait anxiety

이 연구의 목적은 수용전념치료(Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: ACT)에 기반한 학업스트레스 관리 프로그램이 대학생의 학업스트레스, 사회부과적 완벽주의, 특성불안, 사후반추사고 수준과 긍정적인 내적 자원으로 작용할 수 있는 자기위로능력 수준에 미치는 영향을 확인하는 것이다. 이를 위해 국내 4년제 대학교에 재학 중인 대학생 중 사회부과적 완벽주의와 특성불안 수준이 평균 이상이면서 연구 참여에 동의하는 참여자를 선별하였으며, 최종 분석 대상 24명 중 치료집단 12명, 통제집단 12명씩 할당하였다. 수용전념치료에 기반한 학업스트레스 관리 프로그램은 주 1회씩 총 8회기로 진행되었다. 학업스트레스 척도, 사회부과적 완벽주의 척도, 특성불안 척도, 사후반추사고 척도, 자기위로능력 척도를 활용하여 사전검사, 사후검사, 종결 16주 후의 추후검사를 실시하고 분석하였다. 그 결과, 이 프로그램에 참여한 치료집단이 통제집단에 비해 사전-사후검사에서 학업스트레스, 사회부과적 완벽주의, 특성불안, 사후반추사고 점수가 유의하게 감소하였고, 자기위로능력 점수는 유의하게 증가하였다. 또한 사전-추후검사에서는 치료집단이 통제집단에 비해 사회부과적 완벽주의, 특성불안 점수가 유의하게 감소하였고, 자기위로능력 점수는 유의하게 증가하였다. 반면 학업스트레스와 사후반추사고 점수는 유의한 변화가 나타나지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 이 연구에서 실시한 프로그램이 효과적이었음을 시사한다. 마지막으로, 이 연구가 갖는 의의, 제한점 및 후속연구에 대한 제언을 논의하였다.

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of an academic stress management program based on Acceptance-Commitment Therapy on the levels of academic stress, socially prescribed perfectionism, trait anxiety, and post-event rumination among college students. This study also aimed to confirm the effect of this program on the level of self-soothing ability, which can act as a positive internal resource. For this purpose, among university students attending four-year universities in Korea, the levels of socially prescribed perfectionism and trait anxiety were found to be above average, and participants who agreed to participate in the research were selected. The twenty-four participants whose data were ultimately analyzed were assigned into a treatment group (twelve) and a control group (twelve). The ACT group counseling program was conducted once a week for a total of eight sessions. As a method of analysis, a pre-test before the program, a post-test after the program termination, and a follow-up test after 16 weeks of termination were conducted and analyzed using the academic stress scale, socially prescribed perfectionism scale, trait anxiety scale, post-event rumination scale, and self-soothing ability scale. As a result, the pre-post test showed significant decreases in academic stress, socially prescribed perfectionism, trait anxiety, and post-event rumination scores compared to the control group. Further, the self-soothing ability score increased significantly. In addition, in the pre-follow-up test, the treatment group showed significantly decreased socially prescribed perfectionism and trait anxiety scores than the control group, and the treatment group’s. self-soothing ability score increased significantly as well. On the other hand, there were no significant changes in academic stress and post-event rumination scores. These results indicate that the acceptance-commitment therapy conducted in this study was effective. Finally, the significance and limitations of this study were discussed along with suggestions for follow-up studies.