Comparing the effectiveness of compassion-based therapy (CFT) and emotion-focused therapy (EFT) on the fear of negative evaluation in adolescent girls with psychosomatic problems
International Journal of Applied Behavioral Sciences,
Vol. 12 No. 1 (2025),
15 March 2025
,
Page 40-48
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijabs.v12i1.46992
Abstract
Background and Aim:Psychosomatic disorders are characterized by a bidirectional manifestation of symptoms, encompassing both physical and psychological dimensions. A significant concern for adolescents experiencing psychosomatic issues is the fear of negative evaluation (FNE), which is primarily defined by an excessive and persistent fear of being negatively judged by others. This fear often leads to feelings of worthlessness and shame. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) in alleviating the fear of negative evaluation among adolescent girls with psychosomatic disorders.
Materials and Methods:The research method was semi-experimental with a pretest-posttest, a control group, and a one-month follow-up design. The sample consisted of 45 female students aged 14-18 years from Mashhad during the academic year 1402-1403, selected via convenience sampling. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: experimental group 1 (CFT), experimental group 2 (EFT), and a control group that received no intervention. The instruments utilized for data collection included the Lowry Evaluation Fear Questionnaire and the Takata Psychosomatic Complaints Scale. In the pre-test phase, all groups were assessed using these instruments. Following this assessment, experimental group 1 underwent eight sessions of compassion-focused therapy, while experimental group 2 received eight sessions of emotion-focused therapy. The control group did not participate in any therapeutic intervention. Post-intervention evaluations were conducted for all groups, followed by a follow-up assessment one month later. To analyze the data, repeated measures analysis of variance was performed using SPSS26.
Results:The findings indicated a significant difference (p<0.001) in reducing the fear of negative evaluation in the CFT and EFT groups. Notably, EFT was found to significantly decrease the fear of negative evaluation in adolescent girls with psychosomatic symptoms. These results remained stable throughout the follow-up period (p<0.001).
Conclusion:The superior efficacy of emotion-focused therapy compared to compassion-focused therapy can be attributed to its emphasis on reframing issues by addressing negative cycles, underlying emotions, and attachment-related needs. It suggests that EFT may offer a more effective therapeutic approach for reducing the fear of negative evaluation in adolescents suffering from psychosomatic disorders.
- compassion-focused therapy - Emotion-focused therapy, Fear of Negative Evaluation, Psychosomatic Disorder.
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References
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