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Volume 7, Issue 1 (2026)
J Clinic Care Skill 2026, 7(1): 27-31 |
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Ethics code: IR.IAU.AHVAZ.REC.1404.271
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Received: 2025/10/21 | Accepted: 2025/12/10 | Published: 2026/01/11
Received: 2025/10/21 | Accepted: 2025/12/10 | Published: 2026/01/11
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Roustaei R, Bavi S. Effect of Emotion-Focused Therapy on Aggression and Distress Tolerance in Students with Clinical Aggression Symptoms. J Clinic Care Skill 2026; 7 (1) :27-31
URL: http://jccs.yums.ac.ir/article-1-487-en.html
URL: http://jccs.yums.ac.ir/article-1-487-en.html
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1- Department of Psychology, Ahv.C. (Ahvaz Campus), Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
Abstract (550 Views)
Aims: Aggression in early adolescence is a critical psychological challenge that often arises from deficits in emotional processing and low distress tolerance. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of emotion-focused therapy on aggression and distress tolerance among middle school female students exhibiting clinical symptoms of aggression.
Materials & Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 40 female middle school students in Tehran during the 2024-2025 academic year. Through multi-stage random sampling and clinical screening, eligible students were selected and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=20) or the control group (n=20). The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of emotion-focused therapy, while the control group remained on a waitlist. Data were collected using the Ahvaz Aggression Inventory and the Distress Tolerance Scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.
Findings: Emotion-focused therapy significantly improved aggression and distress tolerance in the experimental group compared to controls (p<0.001). Aggression decreased from 61.29±7.31 (pre-test) to 42.05±4.72 (follow-up) in the emotion-focused therapy group, whereas it remained stable in the control group (63.83±7.93). Distress tolerance increased from 27.85±8.02 (pre-test) to 50.09±5.39 (follow-up) in the emotion-focused therapy group, compared to stable scores in controls (25.74±8.94). These effects were sustained at the three-month follow-up, with significant group×time interactions observed for both outcomes.
Conclusion: Emotion-focused therapy serves as an effective intervention for mitigating aggression and enhancing distress tolerance in adolescent girls.
Materials & Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 40 female middle school students in Tehran during the 2024-2025 academic year. Through multi-stage random sampling and clinical screening, eligible students were selected and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=20) or the control group (n=20). The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of emotion-focused therapy, while the control group remained on a waitlist. Data were collected using the Ahvaz Aggression Inventory and the Distress Tolerance Scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.
Findings: Emotion-focused therapy significantly improved aggression and distress tolerance in the experimental group compared to controls (p<0.001). Aggression decreased from 61.29±7.31 (pre-test) to 42.05±4.72 (follow-up) in the emotion-focused therapy group, whereas it remained stable in the control group (63.83±7.93). Distress tolerance increased from 27.85±8.02 (pre-test) to 50.09±5.39 (follow-up) in the emotion-focused therapy group, compared to stable scores in controls (25.74±8.94). These effects were sustained at the three-month follow-up, with significant group×time interactions observed for both outcomes.
Conclusion: Emotion-focused therapy serves as an effective intervention for mitigating aggression and enhancing distress tolerance in adolescent girls.
Keywords:
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