G5 Doctoral dissertation (article)
ACTing for adolescent diabetes : evaluating the impact and acceptance of a group-based acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes (2024)
Nuoret ja tyypin 1 diabetes : ryhmämuotoisen hyväksymis- ja omistautumisterapeuttisen intervention vaikuttavuus ja hyväksyttävyys

Alho, I. (2024). ACTing for adolescent diabetes : evaluating the impact and acceptance of a group-based acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes [Doctoral dissertation]. University of Jyväskylä. JYU Dissertations, 770. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-86-0111-1

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Alho, Iina

eISBN: 978-952-86-0111-1

Journal or series: JYU Dissertations

eISSN: 2489-9003

Publication year: 2024

Number in series: 770

Number of pages in the book: 1 verkkoaineisto (98 sivua, 26 sivua useina numerointijaksoina, 3 numeroimatonta sivua)

Publisher: University of Jyväskylä

Place of Publication: Jyväskylä

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: English

Persistent website address: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-86-0111-1

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact and acceptance of a group-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes who were not meeting their treatment targets. Adolescents aged 12-16 (n = 78) at the diabetes outpatient clinic were allocated to intervention and control groups. Study I explored the pre-intervention data from both intervention and control groups (n = 65) and investigated the role of psychological flexibility in relation to glycemic control (HbA1c) and quality of life. The results showed that a higher level of diabetes-related psychological flexibility and mindfulness and acceptance skills were associated with better glycemic control, better quality of life, and lower levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. Diabetes-related psychological flexibility mediated the relationship between glycemic control and depressive symptoms as well as quality of life. Study II explored the impacts of the ACT-group intervention. HbA1c levels, diabetes-related psychological flexibility, acceptance and mindfulness skills, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and quality of life were monitored. Results showed that, compared to the control group (n = 36), the intervention group (n = 36) showed significantly larger changes in glycemic control, diabetes-related psychological flexibility, and symptoms of anxiety. Study III explored the acceptance and perceived benefits of the intervention using both quantitative and qualitative data from those adolescents who completed the intervention (n = 28) and their parents. Based on the result, the intervention was well accepted, and most of the adolescents and their parents were satisfied with the intervention. Themes that arose from the experiences of the adolescents included, for example, increased motivation for treatment and improved attitude toward diabetes. Among the parents, themes such as positive changes in adolescents’ mood, better attitude toward diabetes, and increased motivation for treatment emerged. Those who improved more regarding their glycemic control were older and had higher HbA1c at the start, and they reported greater changes in diabetes-related psychological flexibility. Based on these findings, an ACT-based group intervention is suitable for this group and could increase treatment compliance.

Keywords: young people; juvenile diabetes; therapeutic equilibrium; intervention; acceptance and commitment therapy; group therapy; resilience; quality of life; doctoral dissertations

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2024