Mechanisms of change: Exploratory outcomes from a randomised controlled trial of acceptance and commitment therapy for anxious adolescents

• Exploratory multiple mediation analyses from an RCT of ACT for adolescent anxiety.
• Limited support for the full hexaflex model in mediating therapeutic outcomes.
• Mixed specific effects observed for defusion, acceptance and mindfulness/self-as-context.
• In contrast to predictions, mediation effects were predominantly treatment-common.
• Despite their differences ACT and CBT may be underpinned by analogous mechanisms.