Comparison of the Effect of Short Term Group Therapy Based on Predictive Model of Social Anxiety and Hoffman Short Term Cognitive –Behavioral Group Therapy on Social Anxiety Symptoms in Junior High School Students

This research has been done to determine the effects of short term group therapy based on the predictive model of social anxiety and compare it with Hofmann's cognitive-behavioral group therapy on social anxiety symptoms in junior high school students. For screening, 210 students who were selected by cluster random sampling completed the LaGreca Social Anxiety Questionnaire. Thirty of them, whose scores were the highest on the LaGreca Social Anxiety Questionnaire, were selected and randomly assigned to three groups (model-based social anxiety group, Hoffman cognitive-behavioral social anxiety group, and control group). Experimental intervention was performed for group 1 (model-based therapy) and group 2 (Hoffman's cognitive-behavioral therapy). Group 3 (control) received no intervention. After six, 90minute, sessions of intervention for groups 1 and 2, all three groups completed the LaGreca Social Anxiety Questionnaire. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control group (P = 0.000). But no significant difference was found between experimental groups in decreasing social anxiety symptoms (p = 0.356). According to the findings of the study, model-based social anxiety group therapy was effective in reducing the symptoms of social anxiety. There was also no difference between the two experimental groups in reducing the symptoms of social anxiety.