The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Reducing Academic Fatigue, Distress, and Hopelessness in Female Secondary School Students with Test Anxiety.
The effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on reducing academic fatigue, psychological distress, and academic hopelessness among female secondary school students with test anxiety in Ahvaz.
Design
This study is designed as a quasi-experimental clinical trial with a pre-test/post-test and control group. Thirty female secondary students in Ahvaz with test anxiety will be allocated using block randomization (block size of 4), generated via Random Allocation Software and sealed envelopes, into two groups of 15 (experimental and control). The experimental group will receive ACT intervention, while the control group will be placed on a waitlist.
Settings and conduct
This study is conducted in girls’ schools in Ahvaz. Thirty students with test anxiety are randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group receives 8 ACT sessions, and the study is conducted as single-blind.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Female student
Secondary school level
Ahvaz city resident
Test anxiety (high score)
Informed consent provided
Exclusion Criteria:
History of severe psychiatric disorders
Unwillingness to cooperate
Inability to understand instructions
Intervention groups
Intervention Group (Experimental): These students will receive 8 sessions of ACT, each lasting 90 minutes, over a 4-week period. Sessions involve learning ACT skills through practical exercises and group discussions.
Control Group: These students will not receive any intervention during the 4-week study period. They will receive the ACT intervention after the study concludes.
The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Reducing Academic Fatigue, Distress, and Hopelessness in Female Secondary School Students with Test Anxiety.
Public title
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Reducing Academic Fatigue, Distress, and Hopelessness
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Female secondary school student in Ahvaz
Having test anxiety (high score on Sarason’s Test Anxiety Inventory)
Written informed consent from parents or legal guardian
Ability to comprehend and respond to questionnaire items and intervention instructions
Exclusion criteria:
Age outside the secondary school range
History of serious psychiatric disorders requiring immediate specialized treatment
Unwillingness to cooperate throughout the intervention period
Age
From 12 years old to 18 years old
Gender
Female
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
30
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
The randomization method used in this study is block randomization with a block size of 4. The allocation sequence will be generated using Random Allocation Software and placed in consecutive sealed envelopes. After final confirmation of each participant's entry conditions, the researcher will open the envelopes in order to allocate individuals to the intervention or control group.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
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
2026-06-09, 1405/03/19
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.AHVAZ.REC.1405.255
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Test anxiety
ICD-10 code
F41.8
ICD-10 code description
Other specified anxiety disorders
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Test anxiety
Timepoint
At the beginning of the study, before the start of the intervention (pre-test), and immediately after the completion of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy sessions, at the end of the fourth week (post-test).
Method of measurement
Sarason Test Anxiety Questionnaire
2
Description
Academic fatigue
Timepoint
At the beginning of the study, before the start of the intervention (pre-test), and immediately after the completion of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy sessions, at the end of the fourth week (post-test).
Method of measurement
Academic Burnout Inventory by Salmela-Aro, Kiuru, and Nurmi (2009)
3
Description
Psychological distress
Timepoint
At the beginning of the study, before the start of the intervention (pre-test), and immediately after the completion of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy sessions, at the end of the fourth week (post-test).
Method of measurement
Kessler Psychological Distress Scale
4
Description
Hopelessness
Timepoint
At the beginning of the study, before the start of the intervention (pre-test), and immediately after the completion of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy sessions, at the end of the fourth week (post-test).
Method of measurement
Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS)
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
First Intervention Group:Participants in the experimental group will receive group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) based on a standardized protocol for 4 weeks (comprising 8 sessions of 90 minutes each, twice a week). The sessions include training in components of acceptance, cognitive defusion, self-as-context, contacting the present moment (mindfulness), values clarification, and committed action.
Category
Behavior
2
Description
Control Group:Participants in the control group will receive no psychological intervention during the 4-week study period and will remain on a waiting list. To comply with ethical principles, similar training sessions will be held for this group after the completion of the study and the post-test
Category
Behavior
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Unit
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
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
Mohammad Hossein Mohabi Nooraldinvand
Position
Associate professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
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
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Mohammad Hossein Mohabi Nooraldinvand
Position
Associate professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
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
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Mohammad Hossein Mohabi Nooraldinvand
Position
Associate professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
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
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