Psychological flexibility in South Sudanese female refugees in Uganda as a mechanism for change within a guided self-help intervention.

Journal: Journal of consulting and clinical psychology

Volume: 91

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2023

Affiliated Institutions:  Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health. University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. University of Copenhagen, Department of Public Health. WarChild, Department of Research and Development. McGill University, School of Population and Global Health. World Health Organization, Department of Mental Health and Substance Use. HealthRight International. Arua Regional Referral Hospital, Department of Psychiatry. University of New South Wales, School of Psychology. World Health Organization, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health. University of Liverpool, Institute of Population Health.

Abstract summary 

To examine the role of psychological flexibility as a potential mediator in the relationship between involvement in a guided self-help intervention, Self-Help Plus, and psychological distress in a sample of South Sudanese refugee women living in northern Uganda.We conducted secondary analysis of data from a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in 2018. We used multilevel mediation modeling to explore the relationship of psychological flexibility, as measured by the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II), as a mediating factor in the relationship between Self-Help Plus involvement and general psychological distress as measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-6 (K6).We found strong multilevel mediation of decreased K6 scores in the treatment group by AAQ-II scores (multilevel b = -3.28). A more pronounced mediation effect was discovered immediately post intervention (b = -1.09) compared to 3-month follow-up (b = -0.84). This is in line with the current literature that demonstrates the role of psychological flexibility as a primary mechanism of change in ACT-based interventions.Psychological flexibility is a contributing component in the theory of change for this ACT-based intervention. Identifying the core components of interventions allows for more effective adaptation and implementation of relevant services, especially in low-resource contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Authors & Co-authors:  Lakin Daniel P DP Cooper Samuel E SE Andersen Lena L Brown Felicity L FL Augustinavicius Jura L S JLS Carswell Kenneth K Leku Marx M Adaku Alex A Au Teresa T Bryant Richard R Garcia-Moreno Claudia C White Ross G RG Tol Wietse A WA

Study Outcome 

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Citations : 
Authors :  13
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1037/ccp0000774
SSN : 1939-2117
Study Population
Women,Female
Mesh Terms
Humans
Other Terms
Study Design
Randomized Control Trial,Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Uganda
Publication Country
United States