The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training Program on Perceived Stress, Anxiety Sensitivity and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents with Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder is one of the most important disorders in adolescence that affects various aspects of personal, social, educational and psychological life of students. Mindfulness training is one of the most effective treatments for this disorder. The aim of this study was the effectiveness of mindfulness training program on perceived stress, anxiety sensitivity and anxiety symptoms in adolescents with symptoms of social anxiety disorder in Urmia in 2018.

In this quasi-experimental study, a sample of 32 students from Urmia was selected. First, 5 schools in the 2nd education district of Urmia were selected by cluster sampling method, then by purposive sampling method, out of 450 students, 32 students who scored above 60 on the Leibovitz Adolescent and Children Social Anxiety Scale. They were selected, selected in 1397, randomly divided into two groups of control and experimental. The research instruments were Leibovitz Adolescents and Children Social Anxiety Scale, Cohen Perceived Stress Questionnaire, Anxiety Sensitivity Questionnaire and Beck Anxiety Inventory. The experimental group received mindfulness training during 8 sessions and the control group did not receive training. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23 and multivariate analysis of covariance.

The results show that after performing mindfulness training, there was a statistically significant difference in the mean of perceived stress (p <0.01), anxiety sensitivity (p <0.01), anxiety symptoms (p <0.01) Was observed between the experimental and control groups.

Therefore, mindfulness training affects information processing by reducing cognitive and emotional biases, which reduces perceived stress, anxiety sensitivity and anxiety symptoms among students, so it is recommended. Mindfulness training programs should be implemented in schools for students and school counselors should receive training in this field.