Internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy (iACT) improves professional psychological help-seeking attitudes: A randomized controlled trial.

Wenke Chen; Yunxiao Guo; Qian Xiong; Yuyi Zhang; Junrong Zhao; Sijun Liu; Zhihong Ren

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2026.122325

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Internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy (iACT) improves professional psychological help-seeking attitudes: A randomized controlled trial.

Wenke Chen·Yunxiao Guo·Qian Xiong·Yuyi Zhang·Junrong Zhao·Sijun Liu·Zhihong Ren

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Professional psychological help-seeking attitudes are crucial for addressing mental health challenges, yet the mechanisms underlying their improvement through internet-based interventions remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled trial aimed to (1) evaluate the efficacy of Internet-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (iACT) in enhancing professional help-seeking attitudes, and (2) elucidate the longitudinal mediating roles of psychological rigidity and self-stigma. METHODS: A total of 91 male participants (Mean Age = 21.09) were randomly assigned to either a 12-day iACT intervention group (n = 46) using a self-developed mobile application or a waitlist control group (n = 45). Psychological flexibility, rigidity, self-stigma, and help-seeking attitudes were measured at four time points: baseline, mid-intervention (Day 6), post-intervention (Day 12), and 1-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and latent growth modeling. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analysis revealed the iACT group showed greater improvements in help-seeking attitudes than controls (F (3,87) = 5.95, p < 0.001), with medium-to-large between-group effects at post-test for reducing psychological rigidity (d = -0.77, 95% CI [-1.19, -0.34]) and self-stigma (d = -0.88, 95% CI [-1.31, -0.45]). Latent growth modeling revealed a sequential mediation effect: the iACT intervention reduced psychological rigidity (β = -0.53, SE = 0.12), which in turn reduced self-stigma (β = 0.61, SE = 0.09) and improved help-seeking attitudes (β = 0.47, SE = 0.08). CONCLUSION: This study provides the first evidence that a self-guided iACT mobile intervention can effectively enhance professional help-seeking attitudes by reducing psychological rigidity, which in turn alleviates self-stigma. The developed app offers a scalable solution to overcoming stigma-related barriers to mental health care.

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Wenke Chen, Yunxiao Guo, Qian Xiong, Yuyi Zhang, Junrong Zhao, Sijun Liu, Zhihong Ren. 2026-07-28. Internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy (iACT) improves professional psychological help-seeking attitudes: A randomized controlled trial.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2026.122325

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Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial resource Acceptance and Commitment Therapy subject Adolescent subject Adult subject Attitude of Health Personnel subject Help-Seeking Behavior subject Humans subject Internet subject Internet-Based Intervention subject Journal Article subject Latent growth modeling subject Male subject Patient Acceptance of Health Care subject Randomized controlled trials study

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