The effectiveness of group emotion regulation training on feeling shame and coping strategies of self-injury adolescents

Due to the prevalence and consequences of self-harming behaviors among teenagers, therapeutic interventions are necessary; therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of emotion regulation group training on feeling of shame and coping strategies of self-harming teenagers.

In a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test study with a control group, among the 13-15 year-old female teenagers of Shiraz city (region 2) in years of 2020-2021, 30 people were selected and randomly divided into experimental and control groups (n=15). They responded to the Simonds’s Adolescent Shame-Proneness Scale and adolescent coping scale (by Frydenberg & Lewis). The experimental group received Gratz’s emotion regulation group therapy, but the control group did not receive any training. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance.

Generally, the results showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the level of shame and coping strategies (p<0.0001). the emotion regulation group training reduced the components of shame (negative self- evaluation and emotional discomfort). It also increased productive coping strategies and decreased non-productive coping strategies (p<0.0001). It should be noted that in terms of the externalization component and coping strategies of referring to others, there was no significant difference between the two groups.

Based on our results, in order to improve the psychological condition of self-harming teenagers, therapists, counselors, and psychologists can use the emotion regulation group training along with other treatment methods.