The effects of a hybrid trauma-informed acceptance and commitment therapy intervention on stress and trauma symptoms among college students.

In 30 seconds

This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled pilot trial assessed a brief hybrid trauma-informed acceptance and commitment therapy intervention, Present and Open for Values (POV), in 78 undergraduates. Compared with an active control, students assigned to POV reported greater reductions in perceived stress immediately after the intervention, with a medium interaction effect; this difference was not maintained at 3-month follow-up. There were no differential effects on posttraumatic stress symptoms or self-compassion overall. Adverse childhood experience scores moderated follow-up self-compassion, with higher scores associated with higher self-compassion in POV and lower self-compassion in control.

Key findings

• POV participants had greater reductions in perceived stress than active-control participants after the intervention, with a medium interaction effect; the difference did not persist at follow-up.
• No differential change in posttraumatic stress symptoms was observed between POV and control.
• Self-compassion increased at follow-up in both conditions, without an overall differential effect.
• At follow-up, higher adverse childhood experience scores were associated with higher self-compassion in POV but lower self-compassion in control.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that a brief, hybrid trauma-informed ACT intervention may reduce perceived stress in college students in the short term, while effects on trauma symptoms were not demonstrated. The differing self-compassion pattern by adverse childhood experience score also indicates that responses may vary across students, warranting further evaluation rather than assuming uniform benefit.

What to keep in mind

This was a pilot trial with 78 undergraduates, and the stress difference was not maintained at 3-month follow-up.