KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Psychology of Woman Journal 3041-8615 In Press 2027 09 01 Comparing the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Positive Psychology Interventions on Self-Acceptance in Women with Chronic Tension-Type Headache Comparing the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Positive Psychology Interventions on Self-Acceptance in Women with Chronic Tension-Type Headache 1 17 EN Journal Article 2026 07 08 <p><strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and positive psychology interventions (PPI) in improving self-acceptance among women with chronic tension-type headache.</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials:</strong> This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a two-month follow-up and a control group. The study population comprised women diagnosed with chronic tension-type headache in Tehran, Iran, in 2025. Sixty participants were recruited through convenience sampling and assigned to three groups: MBCT (n = 20), PPI (n = 20), and control (n = 20). Both interventions were administered in eight 120-minute sessions, conducted twice weekly, while the control group received no intervention. Self-acceptance was measured using the Beck Self-Concept Test at pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Data were analyzed using mixed repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons in SPSS version 23.</p> <p><strong>Findings:</strong> Mixed repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed statistically significant main effects of time and group and a significant time-by-group interaction on self-acceptance. Bonferroni-adjusted comparisons demonstrated significant improvements from pretest to posttest and from pretest to follow-up in both intervention groups, whereas changes in the control group were nonsignificant. Both MBCT and PPI produced significantly higher self-acceptance scores than the control condition at posttest and follow-up (p &lt; .001). Furthermore, PPI demonstrated significantly greater effectiveness than MBCT at both posttest and follow-up assessments (p &lt; .001), indicating a comparative advantage maintained over the two-month follow-up period.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Both MBCT and PPI were effective in improving self-acceptance among women with chronic tension-type headache, with PPI demonstrating superior and sustained outcomes. These findings suggest that positive psychology interventions may represent a promising psychological approach for enhancing self-acceptance in this population. Further randomized studies with longer follow-up periods are recommended to establish the durability and clinical significance of these improvements.</p> https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/psywoman/article/download/6511/12127