Comparative Effects of Cognitive Bias Modification and MBCT on Cognitive Avoidance and Negative Self-Talk in University Students with Social Anxiety
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Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of CBM and MBCT in reducing cognitive avoidance and negative self-talk in students with social anxiety disorder.
Methods and Materials: A quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test control group design was employed, using 60 students diagnosed with social anxiety disorder selected from Farhangian University (Shiraz, 2022–23). The students were randomly assigned to three groups (CBM, MBCT, and control; n = 20 per group). The CBM group received seven 90-minute sessions, and the MBCT group received eight sessions. The Social Anxiety Questionnaire (Connor et al., 2000), Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (Sexton & Dugas, 2004), and Self-Talk Scale (Calvete et al., 2005) were administered. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests.
Findings: Both interventions significantly reduced cognitive avoidance and negative self-talk compared to the control group (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in effectiveness between CBM and MBCT. The largest effect sizes were observed in the reduction of total cognitive avoidance (η² = .54) and negative self-talk (η² = .63).
Conclusion: CBM and MBCT are equally effective interventions for reducing maladaptive cognitive patterns in students with social anxiety. These findings suggest that both approaches may be valuable tools for university counseling centers aiming to address anxiety-related cognitive distortions.
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