Acceptance and commitment therapy shows uncertain benefits for young people
A meta-analysis reported a moderate average effect, but evidence quality was very low and results depended on the comparison treatment.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The pooled findings favored acceptance and commitment therapy across psychological problems, therapy-related processes, well-being and coping. Advantages were reported against waiting lists and usual care, but superiority over cognitive behavioral therapy or other active comparisons was not established. Very low evidence quality leaves substantial uncertainty about the apparent benefit.
This abstract-based account lacks a confidence interval for the pooled effect and assessment timing. Study bias, differences between study results and possible publication bias reduced confidence.
What researchers found
Moderate standardized effect across psychological outcomes
ACT versus pooled control conditions for psychological problems, therapy-related processes, well-being and coping; timing unspecified. Evidence quality was very low.
Understanding the effect size
Hedges's g expresses a difference in standard-deviation units, allowing results from different measures to be combined. The authors characterized this pooled effect as moderate; it is neither a percentage improvement nor a recovery rate.
The comparison changes the conclusion
The analysis reported advantages against waiting lists and usual care, but described similar results against other therapies and educational controls. That description does not establish equivalence: the abstract supplies no evidence of a formal equivalence test.
The original publication
The Efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Transitional-Age Youth: A Meta-analysis.
Keulen J, Deković M, Oud M et al.
Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40900275
- Record checked
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