Efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy:Increasing self-efficacy, life-expectancy and regulating cognitive emotion among adolescents without caregivers

Abstract

Background: The object of the present study has been evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy in increasing self-efficacy and life expectancy as well as regulating cognitive emotion among adolescents without caregivers. Methods: In this study, semi-experimental design pre-test/post-test was done with the control group. The statistical sample included 38 teenagers without primary caregivers residing in orphanage located at Tehran city, and was selected by an available sampling method. These participants were randomly put in 2 groups of 19 individuals including the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group was trained in 12 sessions of 2 hours and 30 minutes. The measurement tools were Sherer, Hert and CERQ scales to evaluate self-efficacy, life expectancy and cognitive emotion, respectively. The results were analyzed using T-Test method. Findings: The results showed that the twelve training sessions improved the experimental group’s self-efficacy, life expectancy and cognitive emotion (P<0.05). Discussion: The obtained results suggest that the therapeutic sessions based on cognitive behavior therapy were effective in Increasing self- efficacy and life expectancy as well as regulating cognitive emotion among adolescents without caregivers. Also, these strategies increased the use of positive strategies (positive refocus and programming, positive evaluation, acceptance) and decreased the use of negative strategies (self-blame, blaming others, rumination, catastrophizing).