The effectiveness of cognitive therapy on rumination, fear of negative social assessment and cognitive regulation of emotion

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive therapy based on acceptance and commitment on rumination, fear of negative social evaluation and cognitive emotion regulation. Methods: Samples consisted of adolescents (14-16 years) with social anxiety disorder who referred to counseling centers and health centers in Isfahan in 2021. Among them, 30 people were selected by available non-random sampling method and were placed in the treatment group (cognitive therapy based on acceptance and commitment) and the control group by simple random sampling (15 people in each group). Then, 6 sessions of 90-minute treatment based on acceptance and commitment were performed in the treatment group. Results: The results showed that in the post-test stage, rumination in the follow-up stage in the treatment group had a significant decrease in acceptance and commitment compared to the control group. Also, the fear of negative social evaluation in the follow-up stage in the treatment group had a significant decrease in acceptance and commitment to the control group. Cognitive regulation of emotion in the follow-up phase in the treatment group did not significantly increase acceptance and commitment compared to the control group. Conclusion: According to the results it can be said that cognitive therapy is effective in adolescents aged 14-16 years with social anxiety disorder. Conducting similar research with a more comprehensive sample in different communities, controlling demographic variables, using individual interventions and increasing the number of sessions is suggested for future studies.