Comparison of the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Quality of Life and Glycemic Control Index in Women with Type 2 Diabetes
Keywords:
Type 2 diabetes, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, quality of life, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)Abstract
Type 2 diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide that, in addition to its physical consequences, is associated with numerous psychological outcomes, including reduced quality of life and impaired glycemic control, particularly among women. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on quality of life and glycemic control indices in women with type 2 diabetes. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up phases alongside a control group. The statistical population included all women with type 2 diabetes who attended the Charitable Association for the Support of Diabetic Patients in Tehran, Iran, between September and November 2024. Among them, 45 participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups (MBSR, ACT, and control). Participants in the experimental groups received group-based interventions during eight 90-minute sessions. Research instruments included the Diabetes Quality of Life Questionnaire (DQOL) and medical tests for measuring glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Data were analyzed using mixed repeated-measures analysis of variance. The results indicated that both interventions significantly improved quality of life and reduced glycated hemoglobin levels; however, the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program demonstrated greater effectiveness in improving quality of life and glycemic indices. These findings highlight the importance of integrating contemporary psychotherapeutic approaches alongside pharmacological treatments in diabetes management.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Neda Dehghanipour Mojarad (Author); Alireza Kakavand; Somayeh Keshavarz, Niloufar Tahmouresi (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
