Enhancing Psychological Inflexibility, Values, and Anxiety in Adolescents Through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Adolescent anxiety is prevalent, yet process-based interventions remain under-evaluated in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This study examined whether the discoverer-noticer-advisor-values (DNA-V) model, a youth-focused adaptation of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), reduced anxiety and psychological inflexibility and promoted values-based behaviors in adolescents. Three youth receiving outpatient services in an LAC setting participated in a randomized, nonconcurrent multiple-baseline design. The intervention comprised eight sessions; daily self-monitoring entries for anxiety intensity and idiographic values-based behaviors were collected across baseline, intervention, and follow-up. Psychological inflexibility and anxiety symptoms were assessed at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up using the AFQ-Y and DASS-21, respectively. Anxiety and psychological inflexibility decreased across participants, whereas values-based behaviors showed heterogeneous trajectories, including transient gains for some individuals. Social validity ratings and open-ended feedback indicated high satisfaction and perceived usefulness. Findings provide preliminary support for DNA-V with LAC adolescents and suggest that booster strategies may strengthen maintenance, warranting future pragmatic trials with longer follow-up.