Investigating the acceptability of a culturally adapted acceptance and commitment therapy group for UK Vietnamese communities

A practice-based feasibility study

Bibliographic Data

ID2395595
AuthorsAradhana Perry (0000-0001-9599-1334, East London NHS Foundation Trust, corresponding author), Chelsea Gardener (University College London), Jack Shieh (0000-0001-9516-980X, Vietnamese Mental Health Service), Quang Tấn Hồ (Vietnamese Mental Health Service), Anh Doan (Independent Psychotherapist), Anh Tai Doan (Association of Child Psychotherapists), Kamaldeep Bhui (0000-0002-9205-2144, East London NHS Foundation Trust)
Year2024
Volume61
Issue4
Pages626-651
Publication date2024-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueTranscultural Psychiatric Research Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0041-1108 • E-ISSN: 0315-4386
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/13634615241228071
PMID38529626
OpenAlexW4393194946
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited104

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported psychotherapy that offers promise for the mental health of minoritised ethnic populations. Given the diversity of those presenting to inner-city services and barriers to accessing appropriate mental healthcare, we sought to develop a culturally syntonic ACT intervention for UK Vietnamese refugee communities in a practice-based partnership project between a National Health Service and local third-sector service in East London. The aim was to explore the feasibility, acceptability and impact of the adapted intervention to inform culturally inclusive clinical practice and future research. We outline key aspects of Vietnamese belief systems and culture, and consider how these might influence the optimisation of group-based ACT. We then present a mixed-method evaluation of the seven-session adapted ACT group for 11 participants (9 male and 5 female, aged between 44 and 73 years). Individual-level change analyses indicated clinically significant improvements in psychological flexibility for the minority of participants and a mixed pattern for impact on well-being. A thematic analysis and descriptive approach examined acceptability, feasibility and narratives of impact. Participants reported positive feedback on group experience, relevance and usefulness, and emergent themes indicate that the group facilitated key acceptance, commitment and behaviour-change processes, promoted social connections and increased engagement in meaningful life activities in relation to new perspectives and values-based action. Limitations are outlined, but overall, findings suggest preliminary support for the potential beneficial effect of the adapted ACT group as a feasible, culturally acceptable therapeutic approach for UK Vietnamese communities that is worthy of further investigation

Acceptance and commitment therapy · Ethnic group · General partnership · Intervention (counseling · Mental health · Political science · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Vietnamese · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Applied Psychology · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Medicine · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions · Nursing · Psychology · Social Psychology