Effectiveness of Group Gestalt Therapy on Social Anxiety, Test Anxiety and Positive and Negative Affection of Female Students

This research was conducted based on purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of group gestalt therapy on social anxiety, test anxiety and positive and negative affection of female students. The research design was semi-experimental and pre-test and post-test with control group. The statistical population of the study was all female undergraduate students of Sari Azad University in the academic year of 2015-2016. Of the total number of the target population, 50 people were willing to cooperate. Then, social anxiety scores, anxiety test, and the PANAS positive and negative affection scores were provided and pre-tested. Twenty students were selected using available sampling method (20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group). Then, interventional therapy (8 sessions of 90 minutes) was performed on the experimental group. After the end of the sessions, the students of both groups were subjected to post-test. Data were analyzed using covariance analysis. The findings showed that Gestalt therapy explains about 37% of variance in reducing social anxiety. Also, gestalt therapy explains about 67% of the variance in reducing test anxiety, and gestalt therapy has been led to increase in positive affection and reduction in negative affection. The results showed that group gestalt therapy has an effect on social anxiety, test anxiety and negative and positive affection.