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ACT-Based Counseling to Improve Psychological Flexibility in Mothers of Infants Hospitalized in the NICU
Sponsor: Meserret Aslan
Summary
This randomized controlled trial will evaluate two Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based counseling approaches for mothers whose infants are hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Mothers of infants in the NICU may experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. ACT is an approach that aims to improve psychological flexibility by helping people respond more effectively to difficult thoughts, emotions, and stressful experiences. A total of 135 mothers will be enrolled from two hospitals in Istanbul, Türkiye. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: an individual online ACT-based workshop, an ACT-based chatbot counseling program, or standard care. Mothers in the online workshop group will receive one individual 60-minute online session that includes mindfulness, acceptance, cognitive defusion, values clarification, and committed action exercises. Mothers in the chatbot group will receive ACT-based psychoeducation, guided exercises, and supportive digital counseling through a mobile application for four weeks. Mothers in the control group will receive the routine information and care normally provided in the NICU. Psychological flexibility will be the primary outcome. Depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms will be evaluated as secondary outcomes. Assessments will be completed at baseline, Week 2, Week 4, and at the 6-month follow-up. The study aims to determine whether ACT-based online and digital counseling can improve psychological flexibility and reduce psychological distress among mothers of infants hospitalized in the NICU.
Official title: The Effect of Two Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Based Counseling Methods on Psychological Flexibility in Mothers With Infants Hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Key Details
Gender
FEMALE
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
135
Start Date
2026-11
Completion Date
2027-10
Last Updated
2026-09-23
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
ACT-Based Online Psychoeducational Workshop
Participants will receive one individual, synchronous online psychoeducational session based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), lasting approximately 60 minutes. The session will include present-moment awareness and mindfulness exercises, acceptance of difficult emotions, cognitive defusion, values clarification, and committed action. Participants will also be encouraged to practice brief mindfulness exercises during the four-week follow-up period.
ACT-Based Chatbot Counseling
Participants will receive ACT-based digital counseling through a mobile chatbot for four weeks. The intervention will provide structured psychoeducation, brief guided exercises, and supportive counseling based on mindfulness, acceptance, cognitive defusion, values clarification, and committed action. The chatbot will not provide diagnosis, treatment recommendations, medication advice, or clinical decision-making. Predefined safety and referral messages will be used when risk-related expressions are detected.