Date of Award:

12-2025

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Psychology

Committee Chair(s)

Michael E. Levin

Committee

Michael E. Levin

Committee

Michael P. Twohig

Committee

Maria Kleinstaeuber

Committee

Karen Muñoz

Committee

Scott DeBerard

Abstract

The research contained in this dissertation presents rationale and empirical support for the application of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as a transdiagnostic approach in improving quality of life for adults living with chronic health conditions (CHCs). The first study consists of a systematic review that aims to examine (1) the current state of evidence of ACT for adults living with a CHC, (2) how outcomes are being characterized within this population, (3) the methodological quality of the included trials, as well as (4) summarizing the health conditions in which ACT has been evaluated for. The second study examines the acceptability and feasibility of a self-guided, online ACT program in improving psychological and process-based measures for adults living with a CHC. Overall, this dissertation project presents an initial examination of ACT to inform future intervention development and research seeking to improve transdiagnostic treatment outcomes for adults living with one or more CHCs.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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