Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) on Experiential Avoidance and Social Anxiety in Individuals with Social Phobia

Mahsa Bigdelou; Mehrdad Salehi; Hadis Khodashenas; Mohammad Reza Alipour; Shervin Mohammadi; Zeynab Hajavi

Authors

Mahsa Bigdelou Department of Psychology, Ka.C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0898-7139
Mehrdad Salehi Department of Family Counseling, Ro.C., Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4914-7345
Hadis Khodashenas Department of Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology, Ash.C., Islamic Azad University, Ashtian, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9489-8512
Mohammad Reza Alipour Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, QoMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1568-4415
Shervin Mohammadi Department of Health Psychology, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9712-6915
Zeynab Hajavi Department of Psychology, Sa.C., Islamic Azad University, Saveh, Markazi, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6829-3856

Keywords:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Experiential Avoidance, Social Anxiety, Social Phobia

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in reducing experiential avoidance and social anxiety among individuals with social phobia. The study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control-group design with a three-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of adults with social anxiety disorder who attended psychological counseling and psychotherapy centers in Tehran, Iran, in 2026. Forty-five eligible participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to ACT, DBT, and control groups, with 15 participants in each group. The ACT and DBT groups each received eight weekly 90-minute group sessions, while the control group received no structured intervention during the study period. Experiential avoidance was assessed using the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, and social anxiety was measured using the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale. Data were analyzed using mixed repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons. The time-by-group interaction was statistically significant for experiential avoidance, F(3.23, 67.73) = 31.84, p < .001, partial η² = .603, and for social anxiety, F(3.36, 70.47) = 29.63, p < .001, partial η² = .585. At posttest, the ACT group showed significantly lower experiential avoidance than the DBT group (mean difference = -3.87, p = .034) and the control group (mean difference = -12.20, p < .001). The DBT group also differed significantly from the control group (mean difference = -8.33, p < .001). For social anxiety, ACT was significantly more effective than DBT at posttest (mean difference = -4.26, p = .048), while both ACT and DBT were significantly superior to the control condition (p < .001). These differences remained significant at follow-up. Both ACT and DBT were effective in reducing experiential avoidance and social anxiety in individuals with social phobia, but ACT produced greater improvements and maintained a modest advantage over DBT at follow-up.

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