Map of Life: Effects of this ACT-based brief intervention tool on healthcare professionals during COVID-19

Abstract

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) consistently demonstrates mental health and well-being benefits across various populations. Nonetheless, ACT-based research on how an individual’s life history affects subjectivity remains limited. This study introduces the ‘Map of Life’, an ACT-based intervention tool developed in Brazil, designed to enhance psychological flexibility through functional molar analysis with an emphasis on life history. It assesses its effects on healthcare professionals who treated COVID-19 patients. The group intervention, led remotely by ACT experts over six weeks, involved four healthcare professionals from different specialties, all of whom faced mental health and quality of life challenges related to the pandemic. Pre- and post-intervention assessments, along with a follow-up, measured depression, stress symptoms, and quality of life. The results indicated an expressive reduction in depression and stress symptoms, as well as an improvement in quality of life among the professionals after the intervention. The implications of these benefits are discussed concerning the various phases of the pandemic in Brazil, highlighting the relevance of the ‘Map of Life’ as a promising tool for mental health interventions for healthcare professionals during public health crises.