The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Training Program on the Level of Academic Stress and Academic Burnout in Students with Specific Learning Disability

Objectives: Specific learning disability (SLD) is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders that leads to many psychological consequences for students with such disorders. The present study aimed to determine the effect of acceptance and commitment training programs on the level of academic stress and burnout in students with SLD. Methods: This study was a quantitative research conducted with a pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental design and a control group. The research population consisted of female students with SLD in Tabriz, Iran, selected through random cluster sampling method. The data were collected using Gadzella’s Student-Life Stress Inventory (SLSI) and School Burnout Inventory (SBI). Results: Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. Given the results of the data analysis, the application of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) was seen to reduce the amount of academic stress and academic burnout in students with SLD. Since acceptance and commitment training can reduce academic stress and burnout in this group of students, it could be considered an effective intervention to reduce students’ psychological distress. Conclusions: The present findings will pave the way for further research in the field of interventions associated with the psychological problems of students with SLD

The Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Training on Academic Resiliency in Students with Specific Learning Disability

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of acceptance and commitment training program on the level of academic resilience in students with specific learning disabilities. In terms of methodology, this study was a pre-test/post-test quasi-experiment. The research population consisted of female students with specific learning disabilities who were studying in the sixth grade during the academic year of 2019-2020 in Tabriz. The sample consisted of 34 students with special learning disabilities who were first selected using cluster sampling and then purposefully included in the experimental and the control group. The data were collected using the Academic Resilience Inventory and Raven’s intelligence test. Data analysis was performed using multivariate analysis of covariance. 21-SPSS software were used for data analysis. According to the results of the data analysis, the effect of acceptance and commitment-based training seemed to increase the amount of academic resilience in students with specific learning disabilities. The effectiveness of the training appeared to be significant in relation to future orientation, problem-centeredness, and optimism at the level of p <0.05, but not significant as it relates to communication skills. The findings of the present research will hopefully pave the way for further research addressing psychological challenges of students with specific learning disabilities

Social Vitality from the Perspective of Psychologists

Introduction: Joy and cheerfulness is the missing thing of contemporary man and the common desire of all people. Man is a purposeful being who seeks joy, happiness, and prosperity, and he does not feel joy, happiness, and prosperity until he achieves what he wants. The cheerfulness is one of the factors affecting economic, social, cultural, and political development and promotes sustainable development. Methods: The present study was conducted with a phenomenological social approach and with the aim of examining psychologists' experiences of social vitality. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 psychologists with PhD degrees and at least five years of teaching experience in the academic level. Findings:  Smith's phenomenological method was used to analyze the data, during which eight main themes and 46 sub-themes were extracted from the data. Discussion: The results showed that in some sub-themes such as the definition of social vitality, consequences, obstacles, and causes, there is some alignment between the views of psychologists and the background; However, there are different results in the solutions. Psychologists, based on their psychological perspectives and experiences, have proposed various solutions for parents and organizations at the micro and macro levels. For example, their proposed solutions include not politicizing social vitality, careful selection of officials and meritocracy, reducing the distance between social classes, organizing the economic situation, having a scientific view on the issue of social vitality and several other strategies. The results of this study will pave the way for further research in the field of interventions related to social vitality