Terapia de aceptación y compromiso (ACT) para reducir la deserción escolar en adolescentes.

Abstract

The study evaluated the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a psychoeducational strategy to reduce school dropout in adolescents from vulnerable rural contexts in Ecuador. A quasi-experimental design was applied using pre-and post-intervention measurements on variables of psychological flexibility, academic commitment, meaning in life and school permanence. The sample included 40 adolescents, randomly divided into experimental group and control group. The intervention, developed over eight weeks, included sessions of mindfulness, emotional acceptance, clarification of values and committed action. The results showed significant improvements in the experimental group in cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance, vigor, dedication, academic absorption and meaning in life, as well as in indicators of attendance, participation and task completion. The hypothesis that ACT strengthens protective factors associated with school permanence was confirmed. It is recommended to expand the number ofsessions and establish other control measures in future research