Comparing the effectiveness of mentalizing, positive thinking, and interpersonal problem solving therapies on social problem solving in adolescents at risk for anxiety

keivan kakabraee

The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of mentalization, positive thinking, and interpersonal problem-solving therapies on social problem solving in adolescents at risk of anxiety. This study was conducted with a quasi-experimental design and a pre-test, post-test, and two-month follow-up with a control group. The statistical population included all adolescents at risk of anxiety who referred to counseling and psychotherapy centers in Kermanshah in 1403. The study sample included 80 eligible volunteers (based on inclusion and exclusion criteria) who were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to four groups: mentalization therapy (20 people), positive thinking therapy (20 people), interpersonal problem-solving therapy (20 people), and control group (20 people). The research instruments included the Beck Anxiety Inventory (1988) and the Social Problem-Solving Inventory by D'Zurilla et al. (2002). The data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance in SPSS version 26. The findings showed that there was a significant difference between the three therapeutic interventions in terms of their effects on social problem solving in adolescents at risk of anxiety. Also, interpersonal problem-solving therapy was more effective in improving social problem solving compared to mentalization and positive therapies. Based on the results, interpersonal problem-solving therapy can be used as an effective intervention to improve the social problem-solving ability of adolescents at risk of anxiety and help improve the mental health of this group by increasing psychological adjustment and improving the way they deal with life challenges. Therefore, it is recommended to consider using this therapeutic approach in preventive programs and mental health interventions for adolescents.

The Effectiveness of Future Event Specificity Training on Reducing Hopelessness and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents with Depressive Disorder

Niloofar Mikaeili

The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Future Event Specificity Training (FEST) in reducing hopelessness and suicidal ideation among adolescents with depressive disorder. This quasi‑experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group and a two‑month follow‑up. The statistical population consisted of middle and high school students in Kermanshah, Iran, during the 2023–2024 academic year who exhibited symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation. Following screening procedures and clinical interviews, 40 eligible participants were selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The experimental group received six 90‑minute sessions of Future Event Specificity Training, while the control group received no intervention. Research instruments included the Hopelessness Scale for Children (HSC) and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI). Data were analyzed using mixed‑design repeated‑measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicated that Future Event Specificity Training significantly reduced hopelessness and suicidal ideation in the experimental group compared with the control group, and these effects remained stable at the two‑month follow‑up. The findings suggest that this brief cognitive intervention may be useful in therapeutic and preventive programs within psychological and educational settings.

Cognitive Psychology Journal

Comparing the effectiveness of mentalizing, positive thinking, and interpersonal problem solving therapies on social problem solving in adolescents at risk for anxiety

The Effectiveness of Future Event Specificity Training on Reducing Hopelessness and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents with Depressive Disorder