Effectiveness of Cognitive Training on Self-Esteem and Life Satisfaction of Female Perfectionist Students

Introdution: Studies have shown that perfectionists have less self-esteem and life satisfaction. Considering self-esteem and life satisfaction as the main mental health elements and in regard to thought, sensation and behavior as three inseparable human functions that have transactional relationships together, this study was carried out with the aim of examining the effectiveness of teaching cognitive methods on self-esteem and life satisfaction of female perfectionist students. This is an experimental research. The sample size was 60, chosen from female perfectionist students at the dormitory of the Islamic Azad University of Yazd in 2012. They were randomly assigned into two groups of trial and control. Cognitive methods were taught to the trial group. After two months of teaching, the data gathered from theresearch were analyzed through descriptive and analytic statistics. It was shown that in the trial group, both self-esteem (p0.001) and life satisfaction (p0.001) were significantly higher compared with the control group. Considering the effectiveness of cognitive methods on increasing self-esteem and life satisfaction, teaching of these methods is recommended for cognitive rehabilitation, correction of the patterns of irrational thinking and belief and finally increasing mental health.