The Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy on Self-Efficacy and Assertiveness Among Anxious Female Students of High Schools

Abstract

Low self- efficacy and non-assertiveness have basic role in creating anxiety. People who believe that the potential threats are uncontrollable, also they believe that they cannot keep away themselves from others’ abuse. Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy (CBGT) has been shown to be effective for reducing social anxiety. This study was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of CBGT on self-efficacy and assertiveness among anxious female students of high schools. Forty five anxious female students participated from Tabriz high schools were randomly divided into the intervention (n=15), control (n=15) and placebo (n=15) groups. For intervention group a 12-session CBGT program was conducted. Participants’ anxiety, self-efficacy and assertiveness were compared using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Sherer & Adams Self-Efficacy and Gambrill & Richey Assertiveness Inventory. It was hypothesized that the CBGT group would have significantly a larger reduction in anxiety, and a larger increase in self-efficacy and assertiveness than control and placebo groups. The hypotheses were analyzed using analysis of COVARIANCE. The results indicated that the participants had a significant decrease in anxiety, and increase in self-efficacy and assertiveness. The finding of this study indicated that CBGT may be able to improve self-efficacy and assertiveness among anxious high schools’ students.