The findings revealed that ACT significantly reduced high-risk behaviors and led to a sustained increase in self-esteem among participants in the experimental group. These improvements were evident not only at post-test but also during the follow-up phase, indicating the durability of therapeutic effects. Compared to the control group, the ACT group demonstrated statistically significant gains in both outcome measures, underscoring the efficacy of the intervention.This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group. Participants were first-semester undergraduate and graduate students at Islamic Azad University, Neyshabur Branch, during the 1403–1404 academic year. A convenience sample of 36 students was randomly assigned to experimental (n = 18) and control (n = 18) groups. The experimental group received twelve weekly ACT sessions based on a structured group protocol. Data were collected using the Risk-Taking Behavior Questionnaire (RT-18) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze changes across time points and between groups.
ZAKERIPOR, N. and khodabakhsh, M. R. (2026). The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on High-Risk Behaviors and Self-Esteem in University Students. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 2(4), 68-51. doi: 10.22099/ebd.2026.8591
MLA
ZAKERIPOR, N. , and khodabakhsh, M. R. . "The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on High-Risk Behaviors and Self-Esteem in University Students", Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 2, 4, 2026, 68-51. doi: 10.22099/ebd.2026.8591
HARVARD
ZAKERIPOR, N., khodabakhsh, M. R. (2026). 'The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on High-Risk Behaviors and Self-Esteem in University Students', Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 2(4), pp. 68-51. doi: 10.22099/ebd.2026.8591
CHICAGO
N. ZAKERIPOR and M. R. khodabakhsh, "The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on High-Risk Behaviors and Self-Esteem in University Students," Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 2 4 (2026): 68-51, doi: 10.22099/ebd.2026.8591
VANCOUVER
ZAKERIPOR, N., khodabakhsh, M. R. The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on High-Risk Behaviors and Self-Esteem in University Students. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 2026; 2(4): 68-51. doi: 10.22099/ebd.2026.8591
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