The Effectiveness of Verbal Self- Instruction Skills Training on Social Anxiety (Fear of Negative Evaluation, Social Avoidance and Distress in New Situations, Social Avoidance and Distress General) of Shy Students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of verbal self- instruction skills training on social anxiety (fear of negative evaluation, social avoidance and distress in new situations, social avoidance and distress general) of shy students. The research method was semi-experimental with pre-test and post-test design with control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of all secondary school students in Ardabil during the academic year of 2018-2019. Among them, 40 students with shyness were selected using cluster random sampling method. They were selected as the sample and were replaced in experimental groups (20) and controls (20 people). The experimental group received 10 sessions of verbal self-instruction skills and the control group did not receive any training. Lagresa Social Anxiety of Adolescents Questionnaire (1998) and the Revised Shyness Questionnaire (1983) was used to collect data. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance analysis. Findings showed that training of verbal self- instruction skills caused a significant decrease in social anxiety (fear of negative evaluation, social avoidance and distress in new situations, social avoidance and distress general) in schizophrenic students. Therefore, this kind of training can be used to promote the social skills of shy people.