Comparison of the treatment part of acceptance and experiential therapy with emotion-focused therapy on perceived social support, cognitive acceptability, and perceived stress in students with depression

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master's student in School Counseling, Counseling Department, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

2 Professor, Counseling Department, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil

3 PhD Student, Counseling Department, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

4 Master's student in School Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Abstract
The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy with emotion-focused therapy on perceived social support and perceived stress in students with depressive disorder. This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included all male and female students in Baneh in the academic year 1403-1404. Out of 200 students introduced, 45 students with a score above 20 on the Beck Depression Inventory were selected and randomly assigned to three groups. The research instruments included Beck Depression Inventory, Cognitive Flexibility, Social Support, and Perceived Stress. The two intervention groups were treated in eight 90-minute sessions. Data analysis using analysis of covariance showed that both treatments significantly increased cognitive flexibility and perceived social support and reduced perceived stress. The results of the Bonferroni test showed that there was no significant difference between the two treatments. Therefore, both approaches can be recommended as effective methods for counseling interventions in schools.

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