Changes in Mindfulness and Distress Tolerance before and after an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention among Latine Adults Who Smoke

Background. Smoking cessation presents unique challenges for Latine adults who face specific cultural and socio-economic barriers to quitting. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a promising intervention to address these challenges because it targets underlying mechanisms implicated in smoking cessation, including mindfulness and distress tolerance. The primary objective of this study was to assess the changes in mindfulness and distress tolerance before and after an ACT-based treatment. Method. Participants were 23 English-speaking Latine adults who participated in a culturally relevant ACT-based intervention. Mindfulness was measured with the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and distress tolerance was measured via the Distress Tolerance Scale. Descriptive analyses were conducted to assess changes in mindfulness and distress tolerance scores at three different timepoints: baseline, one week post end of treatment (EOT), and two-months post EOT. Results. Results showed changes in mindfulness and distress tolerance in the expected direction, whereas both scores increased after the intervention. The facets of mindfulness and subdimensions of distress tolerance revealed different patterns. Conclusion. Findings suggest the potential for ACT-based interventions to influence mindfulness and distress tolerance constructs among Latine people who smoke and have psychological distress and may guide hypotheses testing for larger scale studies focused on treatment effects stratified by smoking status

Acceptance and commitment therapy · Distress · Intervention (counseling) · Mindfulness · Psychological intervention · Smoking cessation · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction