The role of psychological flexibility in anxiety based school refusal
Research type
Research Study
Full title
ACT for Young People: The role of psychological flexibility in Anxiety-Based School Refusal
IRAS ID
307026
Contact name
David Dawson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Lincoln
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 17 days
Research summary
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a type of therapy that encourages people to be in the present and act in line with their values despite their emotional difficulties has been well researched in adults to help increase psychological flexibility (the ability to adapt to changes in circumstances) and is emerging as an alternative to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for young people. The first aim of the study is to look at the extent which a child-adapted ACT program can increase psychological flexibility in young people. The second part of the study is to look at whether changes in psychological flexibility can lead to changes in school attendance in those that struggle to attend, whilst monitoring other factors such as anxiety and level of functioning. This will require a Single Case Experimental Design (SCED), where multiple measurements are recorded repeatedly with a small number of participants, to measure changes in the processes of psychological flexibility, anxiety and quality of life across time, in six to eight participants. Participants will be recruited from a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting list, identified as having difficulties with anxiety and school refusal. Participants will be assessed in baseline (pre-therapy), treatment (during therapy) and follow-up (post-therapy) phases to assess the effectiveness of the ACT program, which will be administered virtually via guided self-help over six weeks. A measure of school attendance will be completed at pre and post-intervention, and at follow-up. A change interview will be included, briefly interviewing the young person or parent about what changes may have taken place and what they believe has caused any changes. It is hoped that the study will reduce school refusal and understand mechanisms underpinning it.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/WM/0157
Date of REC Opinion
14 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion