Comparison of the Effectiveness of Shame-Awareness Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Body Image and Self-Esteem in Adolescent Girls with Gender Dysphoria

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of shame-awareness therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on body image and self-esteem in adolescent girls with gender dysphoria.

Methods and Materials: This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test format, involving two intervention groups. The statistical population consisted of all girls who had sought treatment at various clinics in Zahedan, complaining about their acceptance of their gender. A purposive sampling method was used to select 36 girls, who were then randomly assigned to three groups. The experimental groups underwent 13 sessions of 60-minute interventions using either the shame-awareness therapy or CBT packages, while the control group received no such training. After the intervention period, a post-test was administered to all groups. The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) with SPSS statistical software.

Findings:  The results indicated that both shame-awareness therapy and CBT had significant effects on body image and self-esteem in adolescent girls with gender dysphoria.

Conclusion: The study concludes that both shame-awareness therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy are effective in significantly improving body image and self-esteem in adolescent girls with gender dysphoria, with no significant difference observed between the two interventions. These findings suggest that either therapy can be utilized to support psychological well-being in this population.