The effect of group psychoeducation program based on the acceptance and commitment aproach on psychological flexibility levels in nurses

The researcher conducted this quasi-experimental study with 60 nurses (control group=30, psychoeducation group=30) for the purpose of examining the impact of group psychoeducation program based on the Acceptance and Determination Therapy approach on psychological flexibility level in nurses in a pretest-posttest design between March 2021 and August 2021. The researcher collected the data via the Personal Information Form and the Psychological Flexibility Scale using the face-to-face interview method at the beginning of the study, at the end of eight sessions and one month later. In analysis of the data, the researcher used number, percentage, mean, Kolmogrov-Smirnov, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests. Mean age of the psychoeducation group which took part in the study was 28.13±8.05 years. Of the psychoeducation group participants, 70% were female, 86.7% were single, 70% were university graduate, 83.7% worked in shift, 93.7% worked more than 40 hours a week, 43.3% had an occupational experience of two to five years. Mean age of the control group participants was 28.93±7.30 years. Of the control group participants, 76.7% were female, 70% were single, 66.7% were university graduate, 90% worked in shift, 96.7% worked more than 40 hours a week, 36.7% had an occupational experience of two to five years. Examining the mean total psychological flexibility scores of the psychoeducation group participants, there was a statistically significant difference between the mean pretest (128.57±21.60), posttest (156.93±21.81) and follow-up test (153.80±16.29) scores (F: 38.625 p=0.000). Examining the mean total psychological flexibility scores of the control group, there was no statistically significant difference between the mean pretest (131.30±17.36), posttest (134.80±21.01) and follow-up test (131.50±16.45) scores (F: 0.566 p=0.754). Group psychoeducation program based on the Acceptance and Commitment approach is an effective method for increasing the psychological flexibility level in nurses. It is possible to prevent negative situations like stress, burnout and emotional issues by increasing the psychological flexibility level in nurses. Key Words: Acceptance and commitment therapy, nursing, psychological flexibility, psychoeducation program