Comparison of the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) on Emotional Regulation Problems and Spitefulness in Adolescents with “Oppositional Defiant Disorder”

Description

Page: 377-385

Elnaz Baniani and Zahra Tavangar Marvasti (Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Fa.C., Islamic Azad University, Fasa, Iran)

Background: Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is one of the most common behavioral-emotional disorders among adolescents referred to psychological and psychiatric treatment centers, which has irreparable consequences if left untreated. Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) on emotional regulation problems and spitefulness in adolescents with Oppositional Defiant Disorder. MBCT is a modified form of CBT that includes mindfulness techniques. This study was a quasi-experimental study using a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the study included all adolescents with “Oppositional Defiant Disorder” who were referred to government and non-government psychological treatment and counseling centers in Shiraz in the fall of 2024. Through purposive sampling, 45 adolescents were divided into three equal groups of 15: MBCT, CBT, and Control. The research instruments included: 1. Self-report scale of adolescent behavior problems (YSR) in 1978 by Echtenbach; 2. Child and Adolescent Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ-CA); and 3. Scale of Revenge Tendencies by Flores-Camacho et al. (2022) (BSVT-11). Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to analyze the data. The findings showed that the use of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has a greater effect on improving emotional regulation and reducing spitefulness than the use of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) in this group of adolescents. The use of “Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy” is a useful treatment in targeting emotional regulation and spitefulness problems in adolescents with “Oppositional Defiant Disorder”.