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Mental health promotion as a new goal in public mental health care: A randomized controlled trial of an intervention enhancing psychological flexibility

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  • Fledderus, M.
  • Bohlmeijer, E.T.
  • Smit, F.
  • Westerhof, G.J.

Abstract

Objectives. We assessed whether an intervention based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness was successful in promoting positive mental health by enhancing psychological ?exibility. Methods. Participants were 93 adults with mild to moderate psychological distress. They were randomly assigned to the group intervention (n=49) or to a waiting-list control group (n=44). Participants completedmeasures before and after the intervention as well as 3 months later at follow-up to assess mental health in terms of emotional, psychological, and socialwell-being (Mental Health Continuum-Short Form) as well as psychological ?exibility (i.e., acceptance of present experiences and value-based behavior, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II). Results. Regression analyses showed that compared with the participants on the waiting list, participants in the ACT andmindfulness intervention had greater emotional and psychological well-being after the intervention and also greater psychological ?exibility at follow-up. Mediational analyses showed that the enhancement of psychological ?exibility during the intervention mediated the effects of the intervention on positive mental health. Conclusions. The intervention is effective in improving positive mental health by stimulating skills of acceptance and value-based action.

Suggested Citation

  • Fledderus, M. & Bohlmeijer, E.T. & Smit, F. & Westerhof, G.J., 2010. "Mental health promotion as a new goal in public mental health care: A randomized controlled trial of an intervention enhancing psychological flexibility," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(12), pages 2372-2378.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2010.196196_5
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2010.196196
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    Cited by:

    1. Rabya Mughal & Valerie DeMarinis & Maria Nordendahl & Hassan Lone & Veronica Phillips & Eolene Boyd-MacMillan, 2023. "Public Mental Health Approaches to Online Radicalisation: An Empty Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-28, August.
    2. Martha Okafor & Daniel F. Sarpong & Aneeqah Ferguson & David Satcher, 2013. "Improving Health Outcomes of Children through Effective Parenting: Model and Methods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Susan J. Ferguson & Alan J. Taylor & Catherine McMahon, 2017. "Hope for the Future and Avoidance of the Present: Associations with Well-being in Older Adults," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(5), pages 1485-1506, October.
    4. Maame Afua Boatemaa & Kwaku Oppong Asante & Collins Badu Agyemang, 2019. "The Moderating Role of Psychological Flexibility in the Relationship Between Organizational Commitment, Workaholism, Job Security, and Corporate Entrepreneurship Among Information Technology Workers i," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(3), pages 21582440198, August.
    5. Tom Hendriks & Tobi Graafsma & Aabidien Hassankhan & Ernst Bohlmeijer & Joop de Jong, 2018. "Strengths and virtues and the development of resilience: A qualitative study in Suriname during a time of economic crisis," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(2), pages 180-188, March.
    6. Yu‐Ming Wang & Joy Johnson & Bih‐Ching Shu & Shih‐Ming Li, 2014. "Towards the development of a gender‐sensitive measure of women's mental health," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(9-10), pages 1227-1234, May.
    7. Maddison Campbell & Kenneth I. Pakenham, 2022. "Evaluation of a Brief Mindfulness Program for People with Multiple Sclerosis Delivered in the Community Over Five Years," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(2), pages 1019-1041, April.
    8. Jannis Kraiss & Kleinjan Redelinghuys & Laura. A. Weiss, 2022. "The effects of psychological interventions on well-being measured with the Mental Health Continuum: a meta-analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 3655-3689, October.
    9. Andrew J. Howell & Holli-Anne Passmore, 2019. "Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) as a Positive Psychological Intervention: A Systematic Review and Initial Meta-analysis Regarding ACT’s Role in Well-Being Promotion Among University Students," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(6), pages 1995-2010, August.

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