Effectiveness of Group Training Based on Rational, Emotive, and Behavioral Theory (REBT) on Promoting Self-Esteem and Reducing Occupational Burnout in Married Working Men

This study aimed to examine the efficacy of group training based on rational, emotive, behavioral theory (REBT) on enhancing self-esteem and decreasing occupational burnout in married working men. This research is applied in terms of purpose and the study method is a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design with the control group and one-month follow-up period. The statistical population of the study included married working men in Tehran in the winter of 2020. The research sample consisted of 40 subjects, who met the criteria for entering the research, were selected through convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to the experimental and control group (20 individuals in each group). Group training based on REBT was applied in eight weekly sessions only in the experimental group. The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (CSEI) and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were employed to collect data. The data were analyzed using SPSS-25 software applying ANCOVA, one-way ANOVA with repeated measures, and Bonferroni post hoc test. The results demonstrated a significant increase in the level of self-esteem in the experimental group, and this effect has remained steady in the follow-up phase (P<0.001). Regarding occupational burnout, the effectiveness of the intervention was significant in two subscales of this variable in the experimental group, and these effects have remained steady in the follow-up phase (P<0.001). In conclusion, group training based on REBT can be an effective intervention for promoting self-esteem, reducing emotional exhaustion, and enhancing personal accomplishment, which are two of the three subscales of occupational burnout.