Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy Compared to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Health-Promoting Behaviors and Psychological Flexibility in Patients with Autoimmune Diseases: Investigating the Moderating Role of Age

Introduction: The condition of patients with autoimmune diseases is critically influenced by the interaction between emotions, health-related behaviors, and psychological flexibility. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on health-promoting behaviors and psychological flexibility in patients with autoimmune diseases, while examining the role of age as a moderator of change trajectories. Method: This semi-experimental study employed a pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up design with three groups. The statistical population consisted of all patients aged ۲۰ years and above with a confirmed diagnosis of autoimmune disease in Tehran between July and November ۲۰۲۴. The sample consisted of ۴۵ participants selected purposively. The ACT group received eight ۹۰-minute sessions and the EFT group received ten ۹۰-minute sessions, twice a week. Instruments included the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) and the Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire (PFQ). For statistical analyses, Kruskal-Wallis H test and repeated measures analysis of covariance were used. Results: For psychological flexibility, the main group effect was non-significant (p = ۰.۹۹۸), showing no significant differences between the three groups. The time × group interaction was significant (F = ۴.۲۵, p = ۰.۰۲۳, η² = ۰.۲۰), indicating that changes in psychological flexibility over time varied according to treatment type. For health-promoting behaviors, the time × group interaction was highly significant (F = ۸.۰۵, p = ۰.۰۰۱, η² = ۰.۳۲), demonstrating greater efficacy of EFT and ACT compared to the control group. The time × age interaction was also significant (F = ۱۰.۶۷, p = ۰.۰۰۳, η² = ۰.۲۴). Conclusion: Both EFT and ACT effectively induced meaningful changes in the trajectories of patients with autoimmune diseases, although the speed and nature of their effects differed.

کلیدواژه ها:

emotion-focused therapy ، Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ، Health-Promoting Behaviors ، Psychological flexibility ، Autoimmune Patients ، age