The Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy and Reality Therapy on Metacognitive Beliefs and Self-Efficacy in Anxious Adolescent Students Aged 14-18 in Isfahan Province Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy and Reality Therapy on Metacognitive Beliefs and Self-Efficacy in Anxious Adolescent Students Aged 14-18 in Isfahan Province
International Journal of Applied Behavioral Sciences,
Vol. 13 No. 2 (2026),
18 August 2026
,
Page 43-56
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijabs.v13i2.49697
Abstract
Background and Aim: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy and reality therapy in improving metacognitive beliefs and self-efficacy among anxious adolescents aged 14-18 years in Isfahan Province.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest design with three groups, including two experimental groups and one control group. The statistical population comprised all students in Isfahan Province during the 2023-2024 academic year. A total of 45 participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (n=15 each) and one control group (n=15). The emotion-focused therapy group and the reality therapy group each received ten 90-minute intervention sessions. Data were collected using the Wells Metacognitive Questionnaire (2004) and the Morris Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (2001). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 through descriptive and inferential statistical methods.
Results: Both interventions led to significant improvements in metacognitive beliefs and self-efficacy (p<=0.01). Emotion-focused therapy was significantly more effective than reality therapy in improving self-efficacy (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was found between the two interventions in terms of improvement in metacognitive beliefs (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that both emotion-focused therapy and reality therapy were effective in improving metacognitive beliefs and self-efficacy among anxious students. However, emotion-focused therapy demonstrated greater effectiveness in enhancing self-efficacy. These interventions may be considered for inclusion in school counseling programs.
- Metacognitive beliefs; Self-efficacy; Emotion-focused therapy; Reality therapy; Adolescents
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References
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