Volume 17, Issue 2 (8-2026)
JAP 2026, 17(2): 82-95 |
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Shahrokhifard P, Alijani F, Babakhani V, Jafari A. Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Treatment Adherence and Self-Compassion in Women with Breast Cancer Experiencing Chronic Pain. JAP 2026; 17 (2) :82-95
URL: http://jap.iums.ac.ir/article-1-5831-en.html
URL: http://jap.iums.ac.ir/article-1-5831-en.html
1- Department of Psychology, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Counseling, Ab.C., Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran. ,alijani@iau.ac.ir
3- Department of Counseling, Ab.C., Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran.
4- Department of Psychology, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
2- Department of Counseling, Ab.C., Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran. ,
3- Department of Counseling, Ab.C., Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran.
4- Department of Psychology, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
Abstract: (301 Views)
Background and Objective: Chronic pain resulting from breast cancer treatment is one of the common and debilitating side effects that can significantly influence treatment adherence and patients' quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on treatment adherence and self-compassion in women with breast cancer experiencing chronic pain.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest design with a control group and a three-month follow-up. The statistical sample consisted of 30 women with breast cancer and chronic pain, who were purposefully selected and randomly assigned to two groups of 15 participants each (ACT and control). The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Data collection instruments included the Chronic Pain Grading Scale (Von Korff et al., 1992), the Treatment Adherence Questionnaire (Seyed Fatemi et al., 2013), and the Self-Compassion Questionnaire (Manavipour et al., 2020). Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post-hoc test in SPSS version 25.
Results: The results showed that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy significantly increased the overall score of treatment adherence and its components in the post-test compared to the pre-test (p < 0.05), and this increase remained stable at the three-month follow-up. Additionally, self-compassion scores in the experimental group significantly increased compared to the control group (p < 0.05), and this effect was maintained at follow-up.
Conclusion: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is an effective and sustainable intervention for improving treatment adherence and enhancing self-compassion in women with breast cancer experiencing chronic pain. Given the mechanisms of this approach, including increasing psychological flexibility and reducing experiential avoidance, the use of this intervention alongside medical treatments is recommended to improve treatment adherence and quality of life in these patients.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest design with a control group and a three-month follow-up. The statistical sample consisted of 30 women with breast cancer and chronic pain, who were purposefully selected and randomly assigned to two groups of 15 participants each (ACT and control). The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Data collection instruments included the Chronic Pain Grading Scale (Von Korff et al., 1992), the Treatment Adherence Questionnaire (Seyed Fatemi et al., 2013), and the Self-Compassion Questionnaire (Manavipour et al., 2020). Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post-hoc test in SPSS version 25.
Results: The results showed that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy significantly increased the overall score of treatment adherence and its components in the post-test compared to the pre-test (p < 0.05), and this increase remained stable at the three-month follow-up. Additionally, self-compassion scores in the experimental group significantly increased compared to the control group (p < 0.05), and this effect was maintained at follow-up.
Conclusion: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is an effective and sustainable intervention for improving treatment adherence and enhancing self-compassion in women with breast cancer experiencing chronic pain. Given the mechanisms of this approach, including increasing psychological flexibility and reducing experiential avoidance, the use of this intervention alongside medical treatments is recommended to improve treatment adherence and quality of life in these patients.
Keywords: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Breast Cancer, Chronic Pain, Self-Compassion, Treatment Adherence.
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Chronic pain managment
Received: 2026.07.1 | Accepted: 2026.08.1 | Published: 2026.08.1
Received: 2026.07.1 | Accepted: 2026.08.1 | Published: 2026.08.1
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