Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on sexual responsiveness, body self-esteem, and vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women

Introduction: One of the consequences of aging in women is menopause, which causes many physical and psychological changes. Aim: This study aimed to the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on sexual responsiveness, body self-esteem, and vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women. Method: This semi-experimental study, with a pretest-posttest control group design, the statistical population consisted of all women with natural menopause, aged 50-60 years, living in Gorgan, during 2022. A total of 30 women were selected through convenience sampling and were then randomly divided into two intervention and control groups, each consisting of 15 individuals. The intervention group participated in eight weekly sessions one-hour of ACT. The research tools included the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI) Lilton (2005), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Rosen (2000), and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) Heinemann (2003). For data analysis, multivariate analysis of covariance was performed using SPSS Version 22. Results: The results showed a significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores of the intervention and control groups in terms of sexual responsiveness, body self-esteem, and vasomotor symptoms (P<0.05). Overall, ACT increased the total score of sexual responsiveness (P<0.03) and reduced negative body self-esteem (P<0.02) and vasomotor symptoms (P<0.01) in menopausal women. Conclusion: Based on the results, ACT, by enhancing cognitive skills and thought control, improves sexual responsiveness and body self-esteem and reduces vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women. Therefore, this intervention can be suitable for enhancing the mental health of menopausal women.