KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Applied Family Therapy Journal (AFTJ) 3041-8798 5 Serial Number 23 (Special Issue on Women Studies) 2024 09 01 The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Depression and Cognitive Biases in Married Women The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Depression and Cognitive Biases in Married Women 262 270 10.61838/kman.aftj.5.4.30 EN Journal Article 2024 06 27 <p><strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on reducing depression and cognitive biases in married women.</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials: </strong>A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 married women in Tehran who exhibited elevated depressive symptoms and cognitive biases. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) receiving eight weekly 75-minute ACT sessions or a control group (n = 15) receiving no psychological intervention. Depression and cognitive biases were assessed at pretest, posttest, and five-month follow-up using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Cognitive Bias Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-27.</p> <p><strong>Findings: </strong>Repeated measures ANOVA indicated significant time × group interactions for depression (F(2, 54) = 45.22, p &lt; .001, η² = .63) and cognitive biases (F(2, 54) = 39.52, p &lt; .001, η² = .60). Bonferroni tests showed significant reductions in depression and cognitive bias scores from pretest to posttest (p &lt; .001) and pretest to follow-up (p &lt; .001) in the experimental group. No significant differences were found between posttest and follow-up scores (p &gt; .05), indicating stability of treatment effects.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings suggest that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is effective in reducing depressive symptoms and cognitive biases in married women and that these benefits persist over a five-month follow-up. ACT may offer a promising therapeutic option for addressing both emotional and cognitive vulnerabilities in this population by promoting psychological flexibility and values-based action.</p> Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Depression Cognitive Biases Married Women Randomized Controlled Trial https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/aftj/article/download/4187/7199