The Effectiveness of Training Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy on Social Anxiety Disorder among First High School Female Students

Introduction: This study examined the effectiveness of training mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in reducing social anxiety disorder among first high school female students in Gomishan city. Method: the research included a quasi-experimental method with the pretest-posttest design and the control group. The study population consisted of all students in the academic year 2015-16 in Gomishan city. First, using a convenience sampling method, two schools were selected among the schools of the area. Next, the lessons were selected, and then, of all students, 40 with high social anxiety scores (one standard deviation above the mean) were selected and were randomly assigned to the experimental group (20 people) and the control group (20 people). Participants in the experimental group, they were treated for 8 sessions with the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program. The social anxiety scale was used to collect data and the data obtained were calculated through one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results: The results approved the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on reducing social anxiety disorder scores and its components (fear, avoidance, and physiology) in the pilot group. Discussion and Conclusion: According to the results, the mindfulness-based cognitive training is recommended to reduce the symptoms of social anxiety disorder in students with high social anxiety scores.