The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Resilience and Perceived Stress in Depressed Adolescents
Keywords:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Resilience, Perceived Stress, Depression, AdolescentsAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy on resilience and perceived stress in adolescents with depression.
Methods and Materials: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group structure. The statistical population consisted of adolescents with depressive disorder who were referred to counseling centers in Tehran during 2026. A total of 28 participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned into an experimental group (n=14) and a control group (n=14). Data collection was conducted using the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The experimental group received cognitive behavioral therapy in eight 90-minute sessions, whereas the control group received no psychological intervention during the study period. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Levene’s test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).
Findings: The findings demonstrated significant differences between the experimental and control groups in posttest scores of resilience and perceived stress after controlling for pretest scores. ANCOVA results indicated that cognitive behavioral therapy significantly increased resilience among depressed adolescents (F=16.854, p<0.001, η²=0.621). In addition, cognitive behavioral therapy significantly reduced perceived stress in the experimental group compared with the control group (F=14.348, p<0.001, η²=0.589). The results confirmed that participation in cognitive behavioral therapy sessions led to improved psychological adjustment and reduced stress perception among adolescents with depressive symptoms.
Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective intervention for enhancing resilience and decreasing perceived stress in depressed adolescents.
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References
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