A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Positive Psychology Intervention, and Existential Therapy on Increasing Life Expectancy in Female Heads of Household

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), positive psychology intervention, and existential therapy on increasing life expectancy among female heads of household. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and a control group. The statistical population consisted of female heads of household living in District 2 of Qom, Iran. A total of 60 participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned into four groups of 15 participants, including three experimental groups and one control group. The experimental groups received ACT, positive psychology intervention, and existential therapy during eight treatment sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using Snyder et al.’s Life Expectancy Questionnaire (1991). The data were analyzed using SPSS-27 through mixed analysis of variance and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. The findings demonstrated that all three interventions significantly improved life expectancy and its components in the post-test stage. Mixed ANOVA results indicated a significant effect of group and time on life expectancy (F=42.71, p<0.011). Significant differences were also observed in agency thinking and pathway thinking. Bonferroni post-hoc analysis revealed that positive psychology intervention was more effective than existential therapy in increasing life expectancy (F=57.21, p<0.039). Furthermore, a significant difference was observed between ACT and positive psychology intervention (F=41.42, p<0.017), whereas no significant difference was found between existential therapy and ACT. The results indicated that all three therapeutic approaches were effective in improving life expectancy among female heads of household; however, positive psychology intervention demonstrated greater effectiveness compared to existential therapy. Therefore, these interventions, particularly positive psychology intervention, can be incorporated into counseling and supportive programs designed for female heads of household.