Determining the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on work-family conflict, quality of work life, and psychological well-being
Design
A controlled clinical trial with parallel groups, single-blind, randomized, on 30 nurses. The rand function of Excel software was used for randomization.
Settings and conduct
This study is a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and a control group in hospitals in Ahvaz. Participants are randomly assigned to intervention and control groups, and ACT sessions are held in the workplace or affiliated clinics.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Nurses working in Ahvaz hospitals with at least 1 year of work experience
Having experience of work-family conflict (based on the questionnaire score)
Willingness to participate in the research and regular attendance at sessions
Exclusion criteria:
Severe psychiatric disorders or use of psychotropic drugs
Concurrent participation in other psychotherapy interventions
Absence of more than 2 sessions from the treatment program
Intervention groups
Intervention group (test):
Nurses who participate in structured ACT sessions.
These sessions usually last between 8 and 12 sessions.
In these sessions, acceptance skills, mindfulness, and commitment to values are taught.
Control group:
Nurses who do not receive the ACT intervention.
This group may be on a waiting list or continue usual care.
The purpose of this group is to compare the results with the intervention group.
Main outcome variables
Work-family conflict: the degree of conflict between nurses' job and family responsibilities; Quality of work life: job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and reduced burnout; Psychological well-being: reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, and increased psychological flexibility.
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20250609066148N1
Registration date:2025-08-16, 1404/05/25
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2025-08-16, 1404/05/25
Update count:0
Registration date
2025-08-16, 1404/05/25
Registrant information
Name
Parisa Abdollahi
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 61 4355 9404
Email address
parisa.abdollahi7478@gmail.com
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2025-09-10, 1404/06/19
Expected recruitment end date
2026-03-19, 1404/12/28
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on work-family conflict, quality of work life, and psychological well-being among nurses.
Public title
The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on work-family conflict, quality of work life, and psychological well-being
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Informed consent
Nursing community
Absence of acute mental health problems
Exclusion criteria:
Presence of a severe mental problem
Age
From 18 years old to 40 years old
Gender
Both
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
Participant
Outcome assessor
Data analyser
Sample size
Target sample size:
30
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
Participants are randomly assigned to two groups (intervention and control) using the RAND function in Excel software or a random number table (taking into account entry criteria such as age, work experience, and severity of work-family conflict to maintain balance between groups).
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Single blinded
Blinding description
In this study, single-blinding is implemented as follows: Participants are unaware of their assigned group (experimental/control) until the end of the intervention. Outcome assessors (who collect the final questionnaires) are unaware of the sample grouping and receive data with non-identifiable codes. Therapists are not blinded due to the non-pharmacological nature of the intervention (ACT) and are aware of the grouping. The data analyst is unaware of the group assignment until the end of the primary analysis (data are analyzed with encrypted codes).
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch
Street address
Islamic Azad University Ahvaz Branch، Farhangshahr، Golestan Highway
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
3733361349
Approval date
2025-07-28, 1404/05/06
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.AHVAZ.REC.1404.187
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Work-family conflict and job stress in nurses.
ICD-10 code
Z73.0
ICD-10 code description
Burn-out
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Quality of work life
Timepoint
At the beginning of the study (before the intervention began) and two months later (when the intervention ended)
Method of measurement
Short Form Quality of Life Scale (Questionnaire)
2
Description
Work-family conflict
Timepoint
At the beginning of the study (before the intervention began) and two months later (when the intervention ended)
Method of measurement
Work-Family Conflict Questionnaire (WFCS)
3
Description
Psychological well-being
Timepoint
At the beginning of the study (before the intervention began) and two months later (when the intervention ended)
Method of measurement
Psychological well-being
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group: The statistical population of the study will include nurses in Ahvaz city, among whom a sample of 30 people will be selected using the convenience sampling method and after meeting the inclusion criteria, they will be assigned to two groups of 15 people. The intervention will consist of 8 90-minute group sessions based on the standard ACT protocol, which focuses on 3 main parts: acceptance and mindfulness (reducing experiential avoidance), identification of values (setting personal and professional life goals).
Category
N/A
2
Description
Control Group: Description of the control group: Nurses who did not receive any ACT intervention and only completed the usual study assessments (pre-test and post-test). They continued their daily work and personal activities without change. After the end of the study, they were given the opportunity to receive the intervention if they wished. (This design allows for a precise comparison of the effects of ACT.)
Category
N/A
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Unit
Full name of responsible person
Fatemeh Sadat Marashian
Street address
Islamic Azad University Ahvaz Branch، Farhangshahr، Golestan Highway
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
3733361349
Phone
+98 61 3334 8420
Email
info@iauahvaz.ac.ir
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Pejman Taghipour Birgani
Street address
Islamic Azad University Ahvaz Branch، Farhangshahr، Golestan Highway
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
3733361349
Phone
+98 61 3334 8420
Email
info@iauahvaz.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Islamic Azad University
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Parisa Abdollahi
Position
Student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 38, Shahid Sabahi Far Alley, (West 10) Emmet Street
City
Ramhormoz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۳۸۴۱۱۷۰۰۱
Phone
+98 61 4355 9404
Fax
Email
parisa.abdollahi7478@gmail.com
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Parisa Abdollahi
Position
Student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 38, Shahid Sabahi Far Alley, (West 10) Emmet Street
City
Ramhormoz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۳۸۴۱۱۷۰۰۱
Phone
+98 61 4355 9404
Fax
Email
parisa.abdollahi7478@gmail.com
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Parisa Abdollahi
Position
Student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
No. 38, Shahid Sabahi Far Alley, (West 10) Emmet Street
City
Ramhormoz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۳۸۴۱۱۷۰۰۱
Phone
+98 61 4355 9404
Fax
Email
parisa.abdollahi7478@gmail.com
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Not applicable
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available