Comparison of the Effectiveness of Integrated Self-Analytic Approach Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Ego Strength and Emotion Regulation Difficulties in Individuals with COVID-19 Grief Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: Ego strength indicates an individual's capacity to endure stress without experiencing crippling anxiety and is related to a sense of competence and self-sufficiency in personal and social domains. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of therapy based on the integrated self-analytic approach on psychological capital, psychological well-being, ego strength, and emotion regulation difficulties in individuals suffering from COVID-19 grief syndrome.

Methods and Materials: The present research method was quasi-experimental, employing a pretest-posttest control group design with a two-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of individuals with COVID-19 grief syndrome in Isfahan during the second half of 2022. Using a purposive sampling method, 30 eligible individuals were selected and randomly assigned equally to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received the integrated self-analytic approach therapy (Atashpour et al., 2021) and the acceptance and commitment therapy (Hayes, 2004), while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data collection tools included the Bart and Scott Grief Experience Questionnaire (1989), the Garnefski and Kraaij Emotion Regulation Scale (2006), and the Ego Strength Scale (PIES). Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (mixed ANOVA with repeated measures) were used for data analysis. SPSS-26 software was used for conducting the statistical tests.

Findings: The calculated F-value for the between-group factor was significant at the 0.05 level (P<0.05). Consequently, there was a significant difference between the mean pretest, posttest, and follow-up scores of psychological capital in the experimental and control groups. Bonferroni post-hoc test results also indicated a significant difference between pretest and posttest, and pretest and follow-up scores of ego strength and emotion regulation difficulties in both experimental groups (P<0.05). However, the post-hoc test results showed no significant difference between posttest and follow-up scores of the study variables (P>0.05). The Tukey post-hoc test also indicated no significant difference in the effectiveness of these two approaches (P>0.05).

Conclusion: The results demonstrated that both integrated self-analytic approach therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy were significantly effective in improving ego strength and reducing emotion regulation difficulties. These effects were sustained at the follow-up stage, and the effectiveness of the two approaches was identical.