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| International Symposium - Assessment of Core ACT Processes |
| Monday, August 13, 2007 |
| 10:30 AM–11:50 AM |
| L4 Room 1 |
| Area: CBM; Domain: Applied Behavior Analysis |
| Chair: Sunila Supavadeeprasit (University of Wollongong) |
| Abstract: In this symposium, 4 papers will be presented examining the assessment of core ACT processes in adult populations and adolescent populations. The first presentation concerns the “Bulls-Eye” values assessment method which measures valued living and thought, feelings, and memories that function as barriers to a valued life in adults. The instrument is designed as an outcome measure, a process measure, and a clinical tool and has demonstrated more than satisfactory reliability and validity. The second presentation is the “Initial Validation of the Personal Values Questionnaire” and is intended to explore content, motivation, success, importance, commitment and desire to change across 9 specified value domains in adolescents. The third presentation “The link between autonomous values, controlled values, and emotional well-being amongst adolescents” examines the link between social values and social and emotional well-being in a younger population. And the final presentation “The Role of Acceptance and Mindfulness in Adolescent Mental Health” seeks to evaluate psychological acceptance and mindfulness and the developmental trajectory of these variables. |
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| Measure "Bulls-Eye" Living. |
| TOBIAS LUNDGREN (Uppsala University, Sweden), Lennart Melin (Uppsala University, Sweden), JoAnne Dahl (Uppsala University, Sweden), Jyrki Hiltunnen (Uppsala University, Sweden) |
| Abstract: Bulls-Eye is an instrument that aims to measure values and valued living as described in Acceptance and commitment therapy, ACT. The instrument is designed as an outcome measure, a process measure and a clinical tool. Bulls-Eye consists of three dartboards about valued living and one dartboard about believability in thought feelings, memories that function as barriers to a valued life. The instrument shows a test re-test reliability of .86 and criterion validity with DASS, SWLS and MASS. A recently developed Bulls-Eye will be presented at the conference with validity and reliability data. So far Bulls-Eye seems to be useful in the clinical work with values as well as in the measuring process of values and clinical research. |
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| Initial Validation of the Personal Values Questionnaire. |
| JOHN TANNER BLACKLEDGE (University of Wollongong), Rebecca Spencer (University of Wollongong), Joseph Ciarrochi (University of Wollongong) |
| Abstract: This study was aimed at developing and validating a measure of values to fit within an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) framework. Values are defined as personally chosen life directions and are foundational in ACT. The Personal Values Questionnaire (PVQ) is a measure intended to explore content, motivation, success, importance, commitment and desire to change across 9 specified value domains. An exploratory factor analysis of the motivation items demonstrated a 4-factor solution. Internal consistency estimates were satisfactory. Estimates of concurrent validity suggested that items of the PVQ were appropriately related to social and emotional well being, state mental health and ACT consistent strategies. Generally, the items were not linked to socially desirable responding. Overall, this initial study found support for the favourable psychometric properties of the PVQ. |
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| The Link between Autonomous Values, Controlled Values, and Emotional Well-Being amongst Adolescents. |
| JOSEPH CIARROCHI (University of Wollongong), John Tanner Blackledge (University of Wollongong) |
| Abstract: Much work has been conducted on the link between values or personal strivings and well-being amongst adults, but relatively little has been conducted with younger groups. We examined the link between social values and social and emotional well-being in a cross-sectional study involving 69 boys and 64 girls with a model age of 14. Factor and correlational analyses revealed that adolescents held the same value for both controlled reasons (e.g., because somebody told them to hold the value) and autonomous reasons (e.g., because the value was personally meaningful and brought enjoyment). To the extent that adolescents held values for autonomous reasons, they experienced greater levels of joy, lower levels of guilt and sadness, and greater levels of social support quality and quantity. In contrast, holding values for controlled reasons was associated with higher hostility. We discuss the implications of this research for values-based interventions. |
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| The Role of Acceptance and Mindfulness in Adolescent Mental Health. |
| SUNILA SUPAVADEEPRASIT (University of Wollongong), Joseph Ciarrochi (University of Wollongong) |
| Abstract: The present study is one of the first to assess psychological acceptance and mindfulness in an adolescent population, and is the first to evaluate the developmental trajectory of these variables. Despite the importance of these constructs in the adult literature, little attention has been given to them in the adolescent literature. We examined whether these constructs can be measured reliably, are distinctive from related measures, and predict future levels of well-being in adolescents. Year 9 (time 1) psychological acceptance and mindfulness were used to predict changes in affective state from year 9 to year 10. The results indicated that both variables predict future affective states. Additional analyses revealed that the measures were reliable across time, and were distinctive from other constructs such as self-esteem and trait hope. We discuss the implications of these findings for the development of acceptance and mindfulness, and the potential importance of mindfulness-based interventions in adolescence. |
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