Functional assertiveness with acceptance and commitment therapy for employees returning to work: a preliminary investigation
Owing to the ongoing global mental health crisis, providing support for employees returning to work after a mental health leave has become a crucial issue. This study aimed to preliminarily examine the efficacy of a functional assertiveness training program incorporating acceptance and commitment th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1415212/full |
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| author | Daisuke Ito Daisuke Ito Yushun Okabe Yushun Okabe Aya Nobushige Seiko Saito Yoshinari Takahashi |
| author_facet | Daisuke Ito Daisuke Ito Yushun Okabe Yushun Okabe Aya Nobushige Seiko Saito Yoshinari Takahashi |
| author_sort | Daisuke Ito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Owing to the ongoing global mental health crisis, providing support for employees returning to work after a mental health leave has become a crucial issue. This study aimed to preliminarily examine the efficacy of a functional assertiveness training program incorporating acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in a pilot study involving individuals who had taken a leave of absence due to mental health problems. As part of the program, eight group sessions were offered to these individuals in a group format while they attended an outpatient psychiatric clinic. The effectiveness of the program was assessed in terms of mindfulness, psychological flexibility, functional assertiveness, and difficulty in returning to work. A total of 29 participants took part in the program, and 28 participants completed it. A paired t-test and effect size analysis (Cohen’s d) were conducted using data from 26 participants; two participants were excluded from the analysis due to post-test data was not collected. The results showed an increase in participants’ mindfulness (observing, non-reactivity and non-judging), psychological flexibility, and functional assertiveness increased and their sense of difficulty in returning to work (especially difficulties arising from workplace relationships) decreased after the intervention. Although the lack of a control group makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions, the results suggest that a functional assertiveness training program incorporating ACT may be beneficial for employees on leave due to mental health issues in returning to work. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d851e98ea3b144eb84b97186f7edb8b3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d851e98ea3b144eb84b97186f7edb8b32025-01-27T11:55:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-01-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14152121415212Functional assertiveness with acceptance and commitment therapy for employees returning to work: a preliminary investigationDaisuke Ito0Daisuke Ito1Yushun Okabe2Yushun Okabe3Aya Nobushige4Seiko Saito5Yoshinari Takahashi6Graduate School of Education, Hyogo University of Teacher Education, Kato, JapanTanimachi Central Stress Care Clinic, Osaka, JapanJoint Graduate School (Ph.D. Program) in Science of School Education, Hyogo University of Teacher Education, Kato, JapanJapan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, JapanLITALICO Partners Inc., Tokyo, JapanUtsumi Mental Clinic, Nishinomiya, JapanTanimachi Central Stress Care Clinic, Osaka, JapanOwing to the ongoing global mental health crisis, providing support for employees returning to work after a mental health leave has become a crucial issue. This study aimed to preliminarily examine the efficacy of a functional assertiveness training program incorporating acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in a pilot study involving individuals who had taken a leave of absence due to mental health problems. As part of the program, eight group sessions were offered to these individuals in a group format while they attended an outpatient psychiatric clinic. The effectiveness of the program was assessed in terms of mindfulness, psychological flexibility, functional assertiveness, and difficulty in returning to work. A total of 29 participants took part in the program, and 28 participants completed it. A paired t-test and effect size analysis (Cohen’s d) were conducted using data from 26 participants; two participants were excluded from the analysis due to post-test data was not collected. The results showed an increase in participants’ mindfulness (observing, non-reactivity and non-judging), psychological flexibility, and functional assertiveness increased and their sense of difficulty in returning to work (especially difficulties arising from workplace relationships) decreased after the intervention. Although the lack of a control group makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions, the results suggest that a functional assertiveness training program incorporating ACT may be beneficial for employees on leave due to mental health issues in returning to work.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1415212/fullfunctional assertivenessrework programacceptance and commitment therapypilot studypreliminary investigation |
| spellingShingle | Daisuke Ito Daisuke Ito Yushun Okabe Yushun Okabe Aya Nobushige Seiko Saito Yoshinari Takahashi Functional assertiveness with acceptance and commitment therapy for employees returning to work: a preliminary investigation Frontiers in Psychology functional assertiveness rework program acceptance and commitment therapy pilot study preliminary investigation |
| title | Functional assertiveness with acceptance and commitment therapy for employees returning to work: a preliminary investigation |
| title_full | Functional assertiveness with acceptance and commitment therapy for employees returning to work: a preliminary investigation |
| title_fullStr | Functional assertiveness with acceptance and commitment therapy for employees returning to work: a preliminary investigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Functional assertiveness with acceptance and commitment therapy for employees returning to work: a preliminary investigation |
| title_short | Functional assertiveness with acceptance and commitment therapy for employees returning to work: a preliminary investigation |
| title_sort | functional assertiveness with acceptance and commitment therapy for employees returning to work a preliminary investigation |
| topic | functional assertiveness rework program acceptance and commitment therapy pilot study preliminary investigation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1415212/full |
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