Volume 14 - Articles-1403                   MEJDS (2024) 14: 121 | Back to browse issues page

Ethics code: IR.IAU.KERMAN.REC.1402.094
Clinical trials code: 72871

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Kargaran Bafghi R, Molayi Zarandi H, Manzari Tavakoli A. Comparing The Effectiveness of Positive Psychotherapy and Therapy Based on Acceptance and Commitment on the Irrational Beliefs of Female Students with Unsuccessful Suicide. MEJDS 2024; 14 :121-121
URL: http://jdisabilstud.org/article-1-3262-en.html
1- PhD Student, Department of Psychology, Zarand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zarand, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology Zarand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zarand, Iran
3- Associate Professor, Counseling Department, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran
Abstract:   (530 Views)

Abstract
Background & Objectives: Suicide is a devastating event for individuals, families, and society, particularly when it involves young people. The rising number of teenage suicides, which has tripled or quadrupled in recent decades, highlights the urgent need to address the underlying issues that make their lives intolerable. Teenagers may decide to commit suicide impulsively without proper foresight or after prolonged contemplation. One factor linked to suicide is irrational beliefs, which are characterized by obligations, coercion, dogmatism, and extremes, hindering mental health and the well-being of both individuals and their social environment. Positive psychology aims to strengthen individuals, enhance their productivity, and help them develop their talents. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches teenagers to cope with difficult emotions and situations through acceptance, allowing them to create space for life's events. The study's goal was to compare the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy and ACT in addressing the irrational beliefs of female students who had attempted suicide in Bafgh City in 2023.
Methods: This semi-experimental study involved pre-test and post-test phases for an experimental group (positive psychotherapy) and a comparison group (acceptance and commitment therapy), along with a control and follow-up group. The research focused on female high school students in Bafgh city who had unsuccessfully attempted suicide from 2020 to 2023. Forty-five eligible volunteers were included and randomly assigned to three groups of 15: the positive psychotherapy group, the acceptance and commitment therapy group, and the control group. The experimental groups participated in 12 sessions, each 45 minutes long, while the control group received no intervention. Sessions were held at Bagheroluloom Student Counseling Center in Bafgh city. Participants were informed about the research objectives and ethical principles were followed, including obtaining consent and ensuring confidentiality. The research utilized the Irrational Beliefs Questionnaire (Jones 1968) and a positive psychotherapy package based on the guidelines of Seligman et al. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics (percentage, frequency, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Analysis of Variance with repeated measures, covariance analysis) using SPSS version 27, with a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The results of the research with the analysis of variance of repeated measures showed that the averages of the pre-test scores with the post-test and the follow-up of irrational beliefs in the positive psychotherapy group, the acceptance and commitment-based therapy group and the control group showed a significant difference (p=0.045). Also, the comparison of the effectiveness of the trainings showed that the positive psychotherapy group was 14.4% and the acceptance and commitment-based therapy group was 15.5% effective; Therefore, it can be said that treatment based on acceptance and commitment had a greater effect on the irrational beliefs of students with unsuccessful suicide than positive psychotherapy, and its effect lasted until the follow-up stage. The results indicated the significance of the effect of time (p=0.001).
Conclusion: The research findings demonstrate that both positive psychotherapy and acceptance and commitment therapy are effective in reducing irrational beliefs among students who have attempted suicide unsuccessfully. However, acceptance and commitment therapy show a significantly higher effectiveness compared to positive psychotherapy. This suggests that acceptance and commitment therapy can be a more efficient method for addressing and reducing irrational beliefs in this group. The significant effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy, which persisted through the follow-up stage, highlights its potential as a reliable approach for helping students with unsuccessful suicide attempts to manage and overcome irrational beliefs. Consequently, this method can be considered a valuable addition to the strategies used by mental health professionals in supporting these students and improving their mental well-being.

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Type of Study: Original Research Article | Subject: Psychology

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