The Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Counseling in Reducing Symptoms of Social Anxiety and Improving Social Skills among Intermediate School Students in Dhi Qar Governorate

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral counseling in reducing symptoms of social anxiety and improving social skills among a sample of intermediate school students in the city of Souq Al-Shuyukh at Dhi Qar Governorate. The sample consisted of (40) female students, their ages ranged (14-15). They were selected based on their high scores on the social anxiety scale. The sample was divided into two groups: an experimental group, and a control group, equal in number (20) students in each group. The researcher used the social anxiety scale and the social skills scale. In addition, he used the cognitive-behavioral counseling program, consisting of (11) counseling sessions, with a rate of (45) minutes per session. The contents of the program included the following techniques: cognitive restructuring, relaxation, role-playing, problem-solving, modeling, and gradual immunization. The results showed that there are statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the pre-measurement and the mean scores of the post-measurement in social anxiety and social skills among the members of the experimental group in favor of the post-measurement. There are significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in reducing symptoms of social anxiety and improving social skills in favor of the experimental group. There are no significant differences between the post and deferred measurement in social anxiety and social skills among the experimental group members. Thus, the researcher presented a set of suggestions and recommendations based on the results of the study to reduce the level of social anxiety and improve the social skills of intermediate school students