Celebrating women in science within the ACT community

Some papers that caught our eye!

Women have made remarkable contributions to science, breaking barriers and challenging societal norms to advance knowledge and innovation. This is very true for the ACT community, and the contribution of women in ACT has been invaluable.

In honour of International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11th) we wanted to showcase some papers from female researchers which have caught our eye over the past few years. Here are some interesting and thoughtful papers, covering a variety of topics with the contextual behavioural science literature:

Feasibility of a brief, remote self-compassion intervention for employed mothers (Balzarotti et al., 2025).

Focus of the study
This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of a brief, remote self-compassion intervention tailored for employed mothers. The intervention aimed to help participants manage stress, enhance self-compassion, and reduce self-criticism, using mindfulness and acceptance-based techniques delivered over two weeks.

Women author(s)

• Silvia Balzarotti (first author)
• Ilaria Telazzi
• Laura Vismara
• Silvia Dal Santo
• Giulia Mazzei (last author)

Why we love this paper
We love this paper because it shines a light on an often-overlooked population: employed mothers balancing the dual demands of caregiving and professional responsibilities. This research offers a practical, accessible intervention that fits seamlessly into the busy lives of working mothers, empowering them to cultivate self-compassion and resilience. The study’s focus on a scalable, remote format is particularly inspiring, as it makes psychological support more accessible for women with limited time. This paper exemplifies innovation in contextual behavioural science and meaningful applications of self-compassion research.

The moderating effects of psychological flexibility and psychological inflexibility on the relationship between climate concern and climate-related distress (Feather & Williams, 2022).

Focus of the study

This study examines how psychological flexibility (i.e. the ability to adapt to challenges while staying committed to personal values) and psychological inflexibility (i.e. rigid responses to distress) influence the relationship between climate concern and climate-related distress.

Women authors

• Georgia Feather
• Melanie Williams

Why we love this paper

We love this paper because it addresses a pressing global issue—climate change—through the lens of psychological science. Climate related anxiety is an issue that most therapists have encountered in their therapy room. By exploring the roles of flexibility and inflexibility, the authors provide actionable insights into how individuals can better manage the emotional toll of climate concerns. This work emphasises the importance of adaptive coping strategies and increasing psychological flexibility, making it not only relevant to mental health professionals but also deeply impactful for those striving to maintain hope and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.

The feasibility and acceptability of a single-session acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention to support women self-reporting fear of childbirth in a first pregnancy (Howard, et al., 2023).

Focus of the study

This study investigates the feasibility and acceptability of a single-session of ACT aimed at helping first-time pregnant women manage their fear of childbirth. This study includes fear of childbirth, as well as anxiety measures and includes a short follow-up period.

Women author(s)

• Susan Howard
• Gillian Houghton
• Vicky Fallon
• Pauline Slade

Why we love this paper

We love this paper because it highlights a practical and innovative approach to addressing fear of childbirth, a common yet under-discussed issue among pregnant women. By combining ACT with routine antenatal care, the researchers offer a supportive and accessible method for improving maternal mental health. The study’s focus on first pregnancies underscores its potential to provide early interventions that promote wellbeing during a critical life transition. This work is both compassionate and impactful, making a meaningful contribution to maternal health research.

Through the extended evolutionary meta-model, and what ACT found there: ACT as a process-based therapy (Ong et al., 2024).

Focus of the paper

This study explores the role of ACT as a process-based therapy, using the extended evolutionary meta-model (EEMM) to understand the underlying processes that drive therapeutic change.

Women author(s)

• Clarissa Ong
• Maria Karekla

Why we love this paper

We love this paper because it delves into the theoretical foundations of ACT, offering a deeper understanding of how its processes promote psychological change. By using EEMM, the authors bridge science and practice, advancing ACT as an inclusive, flexible and tailored approach to therapy. This paper is a must-read for anyone interested in the cutting-edge development of process-based therapies that adapt to individual needs and contexts. It highlights the innovation and rigor driving the field of contextual behavioural science. It also stirred up a good level of discussion and controversy on the ACT email listserv, which is always a sign of a paper worth reading.

Wellbeing, burnout, and safe practice among healthcare professionals: predictive influences of mindfulness, values, and self-compassion (Prudenzi et al., 2021).

Focus of the study

This study examines how key aspects of ACT interventions predict wellbeing, burnout, and safe practice among healthcare professionals.

Women author(s)

• Alessandra Prudenzi

Why we love this paper

We love this paper because it addresses the critical issue of burnout among healthcare professionals, who play a vital role in society and are so prone to burnout. It’s also a population that is often filled by women. By focusing on mindfulness, values, and self-compassion, the authors highlight practical and evidence-based strategies for enhancing wellbeing and promoting safe practices. The study’s findings suggested that mindfulness-based programs delivered in the workplace could be enhanced by the inclusion of values based behavioural activation component. This research not only offers actionable insights for reducing burnout but also underscores the importance of supporting healthcare workers’ mental health in high-stress environments. It’s an empowering and timely contribution to the ACT literature base.

The understanding and managing adult ADHD programme: a qualitative evaluation of online psychoeducation with ACT for adults with ADHD (Seery et al., 2023).

Focus of the study

This study evaluates the experiences of adults with ADHD participating in an online 6-week psychoeducation program that integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help manage ADHD symptoms. The understanding and managing adult ADHD programme (UMAAP) incorporates psychoeducation about ADHD, acceptance of ADHD, values, defusion and emotional regulation alongside committed action and self compassion. This paper focuses on the qualitative feedback of a larger feasibility trial.

Women author(s)

• Christina Seery
• Aisling Leonard-Curtin
• Lauren Naismith
• Nora King
• Margo Wrigley
• Christine Boyd
• Louise McHugh
• Jessica Bramham

Why we love this paper

We love this paper because it addresses the unique challenges faced by adults with ADHD and offers a novel and accessible solution through online psychoeducation combined with ACT. By focusing on participant experiences, the study provides valuable insights into how ACT can enhance self-management and improve quality of life for individuals with ADHD. Its emphasis on accessibility and practical application makes it a significant contribution to both ADHD care and the broader field of contextual behavioural science.

References:

Balzarotti, S., Telazzi, I., Vismara, L., Campi, G., Dal Santo, S., & Mazzei, G. (2025). Feasibility of a brief, remote self-compassion intervention for employed mothers. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 35, 100855.

Feather, G., & Williams, M. (2022). The moderating effects of psychological flexibility and psychological inflexibility on the relationship between climate concern and climate-related distress. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 23, 137-143.

Howard, S., Houghton, C. M. G., White, R., Fallon, V., & Slade, P. (2023). The feasibility and acceptability of a single-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention to support women self-reporting fear of childbirth in a first pregnancy. Psychology & Health, 38(11), 1460-1481.

Ong, C. W., Ciarrochi, J., Hofmann, S. G., Karekla, M., & Hayes, S. C. (2024). Through the extended evolutionary meta-model, and what ACT found there: ACT as a process-based therapy. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 32, 100734.

Prudenzi, A., D. Graham, C., Flaxman, P. E., & O’Connor, D. B. (2021). Wellbeing, burnout, and safe practice among healthcare professionals: predictive influences of mindfulness, values, and self-compassion. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 27(5), 1130–1143.

Seery, C., Leonard-Curtin, A., Naismith, L., King, N., Kilbride, K., Wrigley, M., … & Bramham, J. (2023). The understanding and managing adult ADHD programme: A qualitative evaluation of online psychoeducation with acceptance and commitment therapy for adults with ADHD. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 29, 254-263.

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