The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy on Anger and General Health of Female Students in Iran: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: There is a growing body of literature in favor of cognitive therapy on anger in the world. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral group therapy in the reduction of state-trait anger and increase of general health among female students of Khorasgan Azad University, Isfahan. Materials and Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental research. A number of 40 students from the humanity sciences faculty of Khorasgan Azad University, who accepted the invitation to the study, were selected and randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 20 participants) and control (n = 20 participants) groups. The group therapy, based on Reilly & Shropshire’s model (2000), was held in 8 weekly sessions at Khorasgan Azad University. The participants were asked to fill out the Spielberger’s state-trait and general health questionnaires in the pre-test, post-test and follow-up test (6 months later). Results: The results of multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) showed a significant difference between the groups in the mean scores of state anger, anxiety, social dysfunction, depression, and general health in the post-test (P < 0.05). However, there was not a significant difference in the mean scores of trait anger and somatic symptom in this stage. In the follow-up stage, there was a significant difference in all the variables between the two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Cognitive-behavioral group therapy could be an appropriate approach in decreasing anger and improving general health among female students.