The Effectiveness of Group-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Cognitive Fusion, Mindfulness, and Avoidance Behaviors in Athletes
Subject Areas :Mahdieh Abolhasani 1 , Hojatollah Javidi 2 , ali shaker 3
1 - M.A. graduate in Clinical Psychology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Alamarvdasht, Iran.
3 - Ph.D Student, Sport sciences Department, Sh.C, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran.
Keywords: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Fusion, Mindfulness, Avoidant Behaviors, Athletes,
Abstract :
Introduction: Athletes in competitive environments face various psychological pressures such as performance anxiety, high expectations, and stress related to potential failure. Therefore, enhancing psychological flexibility is essential for maintaining optimal performance. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which emphasizes acceptance of internal experiences and commitment to value-based actions, may serve as an effective approach to improving athletes’ mental health. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of group-based ACT on cognitive fusion, mindfulness, and avoidant behaviors among athletes.
research methodology: This research was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest–posttest design and a control group. The statistical population consisted of athletes from Shiraz city, and 40 participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). Research instruments included the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Experiential Avoidance/Behavioral Avoidance Scale. The experimental group participated in eight sessions of group-based ACT, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance.
Findings: The results indicated that participation in ACT sessions led to a significant decrease in cognitive fusion and avoidant behaviors and a significant increase in mindfulness in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.001, η² > 0.50). These results reflect the strong effect of the intervention on enhancing athletes’ psychological flexibility.
Conclusion: : Acceptance and Commitment Therapy effectively increased mindfulness, reduced cognitive entanglement, and decreased avoidant behaviors, thereby improving athletes’ ability to cope with competitive stress. Overall, ACT can be considered an efficient psychological intervention for promoting mental health, emotional regulation, and athletic performance in sports contexts.
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