The effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy (MBCT) on negative spontaneous thoughts and coping strategies to avoid and perceived stress of entrance exam candidates with physical symptoms

Abstract

Background and Aim: entrance exam as a social phenomenon affects the psychological and economic conditions of families. The aim of the present study was the effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy on negative spontaneous thoughts and avoidance coping strategies and perceived stress of entrance exam candidates with physical symptoms. Method: The present research method was a semi-experimental type with a pre-test and post-test with a control group. The statistical population of the study was made up of all the female entrance exam candidates under the supervision and follow-up of the academic advisors of Talesh counseling centers, and 30 people were selected from among them using available sampling method. This number was divided between the intervention group of mindfulness-based therapy (15 people) based on the therapeutic protocol of Kalapiran et al. (2015) and the control group (15 people). Information was collected using Holon and Kendall's (1980) negative spontaneous thoughts questionnaires, Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) coping strategies, and Cohen, Kamark and Mermelstein's (1983) perceived stress. Also, mindfulness-based treatment intervention was used in 8 90 minutes sessions once a week based on the therapeutic protocol of Wolf & Serpa (2019). The data were analyzed using multi-way analysis of covariance test. Results: The result of data analysis showed that the treatment intervention based on mindfulness on negative spontaneous thoughts (F=34.70, P<0.001), negative perception of tension (F=20.10, P<0.001), positive perception of tension (F= 13.30, P< 0.001), emotion-oriented coping strategy (F=6.72, P=0.016) and problem-oriented coping strategy (F=4.86, P=0.038) was effective. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the treatment interventions based on mindfulness are effective in negative spontaneous thoughts, coping strategies and perceived stress in entrance exam candidates with physical symptoms