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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

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  • Andrew J. Howell

    (MacEwan University)

  • Holli-Anne Passmore

    (University of British Columbia)

Abstract

This paper (a) makes the argument for conceiving Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), when applied to the enhancement of well-being, as a positive psychological intervention, and (b) supports this view by reviewing evidence for ACT’s impact on university student well-being. Searches of the literature identified five randomized experiments that measured improvements in university student well-being as a function of ACT interventions relative to control conditions. A meta-analysis revealed a significant, small pooled effect size on well-being (d = 0.29), providing initial evidence of ACT’s role as a positive psychological intervention among university students. Strengths and limitations of the extant literature are discussed, as are implications of, and future directions for, this area of study. It is concluded that research, theory, and application within well-being scholarship may be facilitated by recognizing ACT’s application to the enhancement of well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:20:y:2019:i:6:d:10.1007_s10902-018-0027-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-018-0027-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Laura A Weiss & Gerben J Westerhof & Ernst T Bohlmeijer, 2016. "Can We Increase Psychological Well-Being? The Effects of Interventions on Psychological Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(6), pages 1-16, June.
    2. 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.
    3. Raymond Massé & Carole Poulin & Clément Dassa & Jean Lambert & Sylvie Bélair & Alex Battaglini, 1998. "The Structure of Mental Health: Higher-Order Confirmatory Factor Analyses of Psychological Distress and Well-Being Measures," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 475-504, November.
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