KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Journal of Adolescent and Youth Psychological Studies (JAYPS) 2981-2526 In Press 2026 09 10 The Effectiveness of Mentalization-Based Training on Rejection Sensitivity and Difficulties in Positive Emotion Regulation in Students with Social Anxiety The Effectiveness of Mentalization-Based Training on Rejection Sensitivity and Difficulties in Positive Emotion Regulation in Students with Social Anxiety 1 11 10.61838/ EN Journal Article 2026 01 19 <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><strong>Objective:</strong> The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of mentalization-based training on rejection sensitivity and difficulties in positive emotion regulation among students with social anxiety.</p> <p><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a two-month follow-up and a control group. The statistical population consisted of students with social anxiety in Tehran in 2026. Following the initial screening, participants completed the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale–Positive (DERS-Positive). The mean score of the initial sample was 40.82 on the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire and 30.76 on the Difficulties in Positive Emotion Regulation Scale. Accordingly, students who obtained scores above the mean on both instruments were considered eligible for the intervention phase. Subsequently, 30 participants were selected using purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group, with 15 participants in each group. The experimental group received mentalization-based training based on the model proposed by Anthony Bateman and Peter Fonagy (2009) across eight 60-minute sessions, while the control group received no intervention during this period. Data were analyzed using the independent samples t-test, Fisher’s exact test, and two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance in IBM SPSS Statistics.</p> <p><strong>Findings:</strong> The results indicated that the experimental and control groups did not differ significantly in terms of demographic characteristics. Furthermore, the results of the two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance demonstrated that the interaction effect of group and time on rejection sensitivity and difficulties in positive emotion regulation was significant. Based on mean comparisons, the scores of rejection sensitivity and difficulties in positive emotion regulation in the experimental group decreased from the pretest to the posttest phase, and this reduction remained largely stable at the two-month follow-up stage. In contrast, no considerable changes were observed in the control group.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Based on the findings of the study, mentalization-based training can reduce rejection sensitivity and difficulties in positive emotion regulation among students with social anxiety.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/jayps/article/download/5539/11070