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The Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Group Therapy on Social Anxiety, Fears of Negative Evaluation, and Psychological Flexibility: an Initial Study in Thai Female Undergraduates

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Abstract

The effects of Acceptance and Commitment Group Therapy (ACGT) on social anxiety in Thai female undergraduates were investigated. A quasi-experimental pre-post treatment-control design was employed, with fifty-two community-sample participants. Twenty-six participated in the treatment group and attended the eight-session semi-weekly ACGT; the remaining were the no-treatment control group. Before and after the intervention and at 2- and 4-week follow-ups, all participants completed the measures of fears of negative evaluation, psychological flexibility, and social anxiety. Repeated-measures and between-groups MANOVAs were employed. Compared with at pre-intervention, the treatment group reported lower fears of negative evaluation and social anxiety but higher psychological flexibility at post-intervention and the two follow-ups. Compared with the control group, the treatment group also reported lower fears of negative evaluation at these periods. Significant group differences in social anxiety and psychological flexibility were observed later, at the 2- and 4-week follow-ups, respectively. ACGT was shown to alleviate fears of negative evaluation and social anxiety as well as to promote psychological flexibility. Therapeutic implications were discussed.

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Funding

This research was funded by the 90th Anniversary of Chulalongkorn University Scholarship, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University.

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  1. Faculty of Psychology, Chulalongkorn University, 7th Fl. Boromratchachonnanee Sri Satrapatra Bldg., Wang Mai, Patumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    C. Srichan & K. Pisitsungkagarn

  2. Office of Student Affairs, Panyapiwat Institute of Management, Nonthaburi, Thailand

    A. Yingsoong

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  1. C. Srichan
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  2. A. Yingsoong
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Srichan, C., Yingsoong, A. & Pisitsungkagarn, K. The Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Group Therapy on Social Anxiety, Fears of Negative Evaluation, and Psychological Flexibility: an Initial Study in Thai Female Undergraduates. Int J Adv Counselling 45, 687–707 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-023-09524-1

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