Evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on hardiness and adjustment in the students of Dezful University of Medical Sciences

The social situation of the society has progressed in a direction that the levels of tensions entering the educational environment has increased. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) training can be important in controlling stress and conflict in students. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy training on the hardness and individual-social adjustment the in students of Dezful University of Medical Sciences.

A quasi-experimental study with pre-test-post-test design was performed on 200 students of Dezful University of Medical Sciences (100 in experimental group and 100 in control group) by random sampling method in 2020. Data were collected using standard questionnaires including hardiness (Kobasa) and adjustment. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16 using descriptive statistics including mean, standard deviation and repeated measures ANOVA.

In the post-training period of cognitive-behavioral therapy, there was a statistically significant difference between the mean total score of hardiness, adaptation and their dimensions in the two groups (P< 0.05). These differences were also observed in the follow-up phase after 4 months of intervention (P< 0.05).

The Cognitive-behavioral therapy has a positive effect on the level of hardness and adjustment of the students and also, this method of treatment can be used to promote students' health and mental health. It is suggested that this educational-therapeutic approach be used in the counseling centers and student psychological services.