Preliminary efficacy of an online intervention based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for family caregivers of people with dementia: a feasibility study

With the rising number of dementia cases, supporting family caregivers to maintain their well-being is crucial. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) shows promise in promoting psychological flexibility and positive behaviour change. However, it is still developing in caregiving contexts. This study evaluated the preliminary efficacy of a fully online ACT intervention for caregivers of people with dementia. This study employed a pre-post design with two follow-up assessments at 3 and 6 months. A 9-week web-based self-help ACT program, including individual goal setting prior to the intervention, and minimal contact motivational coaching, was provided to 30 family caregivers in the Netherlands. Linear mixed-effect models based on a complete-case analysis showed significant changes in depressive symptoms (mean difference: -3.34, <i>d</i> = -0.78). Significant and sustained improvements were observed in stress (mean difference: -6, <i>d</i> = -1.13) and anxiety (mean difference: -5.55, <i>d</i> = -1.38), both of which were clinically significant. Sense of competence increased (mean difference: 1.1, <i>d</i> = 0.45). ACT-specific measures, including psychological flexibility, engaged living, and inflexibility, also showed significant improvements with medium-to-large effect sizes. This online intervention demonstrated promising preliminary evidence of ACT's potential efficacy on caregivers' well-being, warranting further research in larger-scale controlled trials.