The effects of the FRIENDS for youth program on anxiety of Ahvaz female students

The current research is a study aiming to investigate the effects of the FRIENDS for Youth Resilience Program on the anxiety of 45 female students ages 13-14 with middle class socio-economic status in Ahvaz. The statistical population was consisted of all 7th grade female students of Ahvaz province in the academic year of 2016-2017. Students were selected using multi-stage random sampling method and divided into 3 groups: experimental, control and active control. Prior to intervention, the students responded to the research pre-test instrument, Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale. Afterwards, the program was provided to the experimental group, as the intervention in 12, 60- minute sessions. The active control group received training on personal hygiene, but the control group did not receive any training. After completing the training program, students took the post-test questionnaire. A follow-up test was carried out 3 months later. The results of the multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) revealed that the FRIENDS for Youth Program have reduced anxiety in students.