The efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy on cognitive distortions, experiential avoidance, and self-control skills in adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms

Nozari Kohneh Shahri, Giti; Ghazavi Khorasgani, Elaheh; Malek Mohammadi, Sara; Mafi Asl, Faezeh; Afsarpour, Seyedeh Atousa

doi:10.61186/jcmh.12.1.9

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Volume 12, Issue 1 (Vol12 No1 Spring 2025- 2025)

J Child Ment Health 2025, 12(1): 117-133

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The efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy on cognitive distortions, experiential avoidance, and self-control skills in adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms

Giti Nozari Kohneh Shahri ^*¹

, Elaheh Ghazavi Khorasgani²

, Sara Malek Mohammadi³

, Faezeh Mafi Asl⁴

, Seyedeh Atousa Afsarpour⁵

1- Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran
2- Meybod Branch, Islamic Azad University, Meybod, Iran
3- Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran
4- Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran
5- Payame Noor University, Behshahr, Iran

Abstract: (269 Views)

Background and Purpose: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and debilitating condition during adolescence characterized by intrusive thoughts, mental and behavioral compulsions, and elevated levels of cognitive and emotional avoidance. The present study aimed to find the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on cognitive distortions, experiential avoidance, and self-control skills in adolescents showing symptoms of OCD.
Method: The present study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest structure and control group. The statistical population consisted of first-level secondary school students in Qazvin Province during the 2024–2025 academic year. A total of 36 students were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Data were collected using the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS; Scahill et al., 1997), the Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale (ICDS; Hamamci & Büyüköztürk, 2004), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II; Bond et al., 2011), and the Self-Control Scale (SCS; Kendall & Wilcox, 1979). The experimental group participated in eight 90-minute sessions of ACT, based on the protocol developed by Hayes et al. (2011). At the end of the intervention, the collected data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance via SPSS version 27.
Results: The findings indicated that ACT significantly reduced interpersonal rejection (F = 56.22), unrealistic relationship expectations (F = 71.78), interpersonal misperceptions (F = 39.99), experiential avoidance (F = 67.91), and significantly increased self-control (F = 54.90) among adolescents with OCD symptoms (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: ACT has played an effective role in restructuring dysfunctional beliefs and increasing acceptance of internal experiences by reducing interpersonal cognitive distortions and experiential avoidance. This process led to a reduction in psychological tension and the disruption of obsessive–compulsive cycles in adolescents.

Article number: 8

Keywords: Obsessive-compulsive disorder, cognitive distortions, experiential avoidance, self-control skills, acceptance and commitment therapy

Full-Text [PDF 1518 kb] (59 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: General
Received: 2025/05/23 | Accepted: 2025/07/6 | Published: 2025/07/16

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Nozari Kohneh Shahri G, Ghazavi Khorasgani E, Malek Mohammadi S, Mafi Asl F, Afsarpour S A. The efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy on cognitive distortions, experiential avoidance, and self-control skills in adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. J Child Ment Health 2025; 12 (1) : 8
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