Background
The aim of the present research was to compare the effectiveness of training cognitive behavioral therapy and Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) strategies on mitigating anxiety, depression, and stress of students.
Materials and Methods: The method of this semi-experimental research was pretest posttest with control group. The statistical population consisted of all female and male adolescents 15-18 year-old studying in the second grade of high school in Kerman, Iran. Forty-five students with the maximum score in anxiety, depression, and stress were chosen as the sample and were randomly assigned into three 15-student groups (15 in the control group, 15 in the experimental group I, and 15 in the experimental group II). Next, experimental group I received training in neurolinguistics programming strategies as therapeutic method, while experimental group II received cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The instrument used in this research was DASS-21 which was completed by all three groups before the study and after the therapeutic period.
Results: The results indicated that training NLP strategies and cognitive behavioral therapy had a significant effect on reducing anxiety, depression, and stress of students (p <0.05). The extent of impact of training NLP strategies and cognitive behavioral therapy had no significant effect on mitigating the students’ anxiety, but it had a significant influence on reducing depression and stress; the extent of effectiveness of NLP strategies was greater than that of CBT for reducing depression and stress.
Conclusion
Based on the results, training NLP strategies and cognitive behavioral therapy had a significant effect on reducing anxiety, depression, and stress of the students. The students who received treatment through NLP and CBT experienced diminished anxiety, stress, and depression.