Comparing the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Choice Theory-Based Therapy on Psychological Distress and Psychological Hardiness in Divorced Women Experiencing Divorce Grief

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Choice Theory-Based Therapy (CTBT) on psychological distress and psychological hardiness in divorced women experiencing divorce grief. This quasi-experimental study utilized a pre-test, post-test, and two-month follow-up design alongside a control group. The statistical population comprised divorced women suffering from divorce grief in the city of Amol during the year 2025. Using purposive sampling, 45participants were selected and randomly assigned equally to two experimental groups (15 in ACT, 15in CTBT) and one control group (n=15). The experimental groups underwent eight weekly 120-minute intervention sessions. Quantitative data were collected using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10) and the Psychological Hardiness Questionnaire (PHQ), and subsequently analyzed via Repeated Measures ANOVA utilizing SPSS software. Inferential statistical analysis revealed significant Time by Group interaction effects for both total psychological distress (F=4.47,p=0.016) and total psychological hardiness (F=11.18,p<0.001). Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons demonstrated that ACT was significantly more effective than CTBT in mitigating psychological distress at both the immediate post-test ("Mean Difference"=5.47,p<0.001) and the two-month follow-up ("Mean Difference"=3.38,p<0.001) phases. Conversely, while ACT produced a significantly higher increase in psychological hardiness than CTBT at post-test ("Mean Difference"=4.11,p<0.001), this statistical difference completely dissipated by the follow-up evaluation (p=0.134), indicating a long-term convergence in therapeutic efficacy. Both therapeutic modalities significantly enhance the psychological well-being of divorced women; however, ACT demonstrates clear superiority in precipitating rapid and sustained reductions in psychological distress, whereas CTBT requires more time but ultimately proves equally robust in cultivating long-term psychological hardiness, suggesting that sequential integration of both therapies could optimize clinical outcomes.