دانشگاه اصفهان پژوهش های علوم شناختی و رفتاری 2251-7642 17 1 2027 03 21 Comparing The Effects of Two Psychotherapeutic Interventions on the Self-Concept of Adolescents Living in Alternative Care Center: Well-Being Therapy vs. Existentialism Acceptance and Commitment Therapy مقایسۀ تأثیر دو مداخلۀ روان‌درمانی بر خودپندارۀ نوجوانان مقیم مراکز شبه‌خانواده: بهزیستی‌درمانی در برابر پذیرش و تعهد وجودنگر 95 120 30533 10.22108/cbs.2026.147408.2109 FA رعنا شاوران دانشجوی دکتری روانشناسی، گروه روانشناسی، دانشکدۀ تعلیم و تربیت، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد اصفهان (خوراسگان)، اصفهان، ایران سید حمید آتش‌پور دانشیار، گروه روانشناسی، دانشکدۀ تعلیم و تربیت، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد اصفهان (خوراسگان)، اصفهان، ایران هادی فرهادی دانشیار، گروه روانشناسی، دانشکدۀ روانشناسی و علوم تربیتی، دانشگاه تهران، تهران، ایران Journal Article 2025 11 17 This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Well-Being Therapy and Existential Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on the self-concept of adolescents residing in foster care centers. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group and a three-month follow-up, the research involved adolescents in the Welfare Organization of Isfahan Province. Forty-five participants were randomly selected and divided into three groups. Data were collected with the Beck Self-Concept Questionnaire. Results from the repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated significant improvements in self-concept and its components for both interventions compared to the control group (p <0.001). Additionally, the Bonferroni test revealed that Existential Acceptance and Commitment Therapy was more effective than Well-Being Therapy in enhancing overall self-concept, physical attractiveness, occupational ability, and moral issues. Findings suggest both therapeutic approaches effectively promote mental health in adolescents at foster care centers, with the existential approach demonstrating greater efficacy in reconstructing identity and meaning-related aspects of self-concept. Introduction In recent decades, social and economic changes—such as rising divorce rates, addiction, poverty, and family-related adversities—have led to an increase in orphaned and inadequately supervised children and adolescents. Many of these individuals are supported by the Welfare Organization and reside in foster care centers. While these centers strive to provide supportive conditions similar to family environments, the lack of stable parental relationships and experiences of separation can significantly impact adolescents' psychological and social development. Adolescence is a particularly vulnerable stage of human development. This period is marked by physical, cognitive, and emotional transformations, during which individuals confront critical questions concerning their identity, meaning, and self-worth. The manner in which they answer these questions can profoundly influence their mental health. Adolescents in foster care centers, who face not only typical developmental challenges but also issues like loss, rejection, and emotional deprivation, are at greater risk for psychological difficulties. Self-concept, defined as the collection of perceptions, beliefs, and evaluations individuals hold about themselves, is crucial for mental health during this stage. According to Shavelson and Bolus (1982), self-concept is multidimensional and hierarchical, comprising various dimensions such as intellectual ability, social skills, physical attractiveness, and moral values. The family context primarily shapes self-concept development; therefore, adolescents without stable familial interactions may struggle with identity formation and self-concept enhancement. Research indicates that adolescents in foster care centers generally experience poorer self-concept in various dimensions compared to their peers, along with elevated risks of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and social maladjustment. Factors such as caregiving quality, social support, and individual resilience are also vital in nurturing a positive self-concept. Thus, designing psychological interventions aimed at improving self-image for these adolescents is imperative. Two promising approaches are Well-Being Therapy and Existential Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Well-Being Therapy, founded on Ryff's model (1989) of psychological well-being, focuses on dimensions like self-acceptance, personal growth, purpose in life, positive relationships, autonomy, and environmental mastery. It seeks to enhance psychological functioning. Conversely, Existential Acceptance and Commitment Therapy combines concepts from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and existential meaning-centered approaches, emphasizing the acceptance of painful experiences and the discovery of meaning aligned with personal values. This approach aims to reduce detrimental fusion with negative thoughts and facilitate authentic identity development. For adolescents in foster care centers, who frequently grapple with meaning and identity crises, this therapeutic method could be pivotal in reconstructing their self-concept. Despite existing support for the efficacy of these approaches, direct comparisons between them concerning adolescents in foster care centers are scarce. This study addresses this gap by exploring the impact of both therapies on the self-concept of this vulnerable population. Method The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group framework. The sample comprised adolescents aged 12-18 residing in foster care centers in Isfahan Province. Using a random selection method, 45 participants were divided into three groups: one receiving Well-Being Therapy, another undergoing Existential Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and a control group. Data were gathered using the Beck Self-Concept Questionnaire, which assesses various dimensions of self-concept. The intervention spanned several weeks, with follow-up assessments conducted three months after the treatment. Findings Results of the repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated that both therapeutic interventions significantly enhanced self-concept and its components compared to the control group (p <0.001). Further analysis through the Bonferroni test demonstrated that Existential Acceptance and Commitment Therapy had a superior effect compared to Well-Being Therapy in domains such as overall self-concept, physical attractiveness, occupational ability, and moral issues. Discussion and Conclusion The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Well-Being Therapy and Existential Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on the self-concept of adolescents residing in foster care centers. Findings demonstrated that both therapeutic approaches significantly improved self-concept and its components. Results further indicated that Existential Acceptance and Commitment Therapy showed greater effectiveness than Well-Being Therapy in dimensions such as physical attractiveness, occupational ability, moral issues, and overall self-concept. These findings are consistent with previous studies. The effectiveness of Well-Being Therapy may be explained by its emphasis on experiencing positive emotions, cognitive restructuring, and focusing on personal strengths. Through this intervention, adolescents have opportunities to identify their abilities and positive characteristics rather than concentrating on traumatic experiences and past failures, thereby gaining a more balanced understanding of themselves. This process may enhance feelings of competence and self-acceptance. On the other hand, Existential Acceptance and Commitment Therapy likely demonstrated greater effectiveness because it addresses deeper psychological needs of adolescents residing in foster care centers. These adolescents often experience rejection, meaninglessness, loneliness, and identity crises. By emphasizing acceptance of suffering, responsibility, personal values, and meaning-making, the existential approach helps adolescents redefine difficult experiences and develop new understandings of their identities. Study limitations included restricting the sample to female adolescents, geographical limitations, and reliance on self-report measures. Therefore, findings should be generalized cautiously. Future research is recommended to include more diverse samples and different age groups. Simultaneous implementation of psychological interventions, social skills training, and supportive programs in quasi-family centers may further promote adolescents’ mental health and improve self-concept. نوجوانان بی‌سرپرست و بدسرپرست، علاوه بر چالش‌های خاص مرحلۀ نوجوانی، با مشکلات ناشی از فقدان خانواده مواجه هستند که این امر موجب پدیدآمدن آسیب‌های زیادی در این افراد می‌شود. هدف این پژوهش مقایسۀ اثربخشی بهزیستی‌درمانی و درمان پذیرش و تعهد وجودنگر بر خودپندارۀ نوجوانان مقیم مراکز شبه‌خانواده بود. روش پژوهش نیمه‌آزمایشی بود و طرح پیش‌آزمون و پس‌آزمون با گروه کنترل و پیگیری سه‌ماهه اجرا شد. در این مطالعه، 45 نفر از دختران نوجوان 12 تا 18 سال از طریق نمونه‌گیری تصادفی انتخاب و به ‌صورت تصادفی در دو گروه آزمایش و یک گروه کنترل (هر گروه 15 نفر) قرار گرفتند. سپس، گروه آزمایش بهزیستی‌درمانی تحت هشت جلسه و گروه آزمایش پذیرش و تعهد وجودنگر تحت ده جلسه درمان قرار گرفتند و گروه کنترل هیچ درمانی دریافت نکردند. هر سه گروه قبل، بعد و سه ماه پس از مداخله با پرسشنامۀ خودپندارۀ بک و همکاران (1990) ارزیابی شدند. نتایج نشان داد هر دو مداخلۀ بهزیستی‌درمانی و درمان پذیرش و تعهد وجودنگر تأثیری معنادار بر خودپنداره و مؤلفه‌های آن در نوجوانان مقیم مراکز شبه‌خانوادۀ بهزیستی داشتند (001/0>p). همچنین، نتایج آزمون تعقیبی بونفرونی نشان داد میانگین نمرات گروه پذیرش و تعهد وجودنگر در خودپندارۀ کلی، جذابیت جسمانی، توانایی شغلی و مسائل اخلاقی به طرزی معنادار بالاتر از گروه بهزیستی‌درمانی و کنترل بود (001/0>p) و فقط در مؤلفه‌های توانایی ذهنی و مهارت‌های اجتماعی تفاوت بین دو گروه ‌درمانی معنادار نبود و هر دو روش اثربخشی مشابهی نشان دادند. یافته‌های این پژوهش نشان می‌دهد هر دو رویکرد درمانی بهزیستی‌درمانی و پذیرش و تعهد وجودنگر در بهبود خودپندارۀ نوجوانان مقیم مراکز شبه‌خانواده اثربخش هستند، اما درمان پذیرش و تعهد وجودنگر در برخی از مؤلفه‌های خودپنداره (جذابیت جسمانی، توانایی شغلی و مسائل اخلاقی) برتری قابل ملاحظه‌ای نسبت به بهزیستی‌درمانی و گروه کنترل دارد که این امر لزوم توجه ویژه به این رویکرد را در مداخلات حمایتی از این گروه آسیب‌پذیر برجسته می‌کند.

https://cbs.ui.ac.ir/article_30533_52ea9231391749ab22e8f4dddd2acf83.pdf