The Effectiveness of Existential Group Therapy on Emotional Regulation in Adolescents from Vulnerable and Orphaned Backgrounds at the Welfare Center of Zanjan

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of psychology, ZAH,C., Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran

2 Department of psychology, ZAH,C., Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran. (Corresponding author)

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

10.22038/mjms.2025.90001.5076

Abstract

Introduction: Emotional regulation is a key factor in adolescent mental health, particularly for vulnerable groups such as adolescents from disadvantaged or orphaned backgrounds. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of existential group therapy on emotional regulation among this demographic in welfare centers in Zanjan.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design, 30 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years were selected from Zanjan welfare centers through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 8 sessions of 90-minute existential group therapy, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were collected using the Emotional Regulation Difficulties Questionnaire and analyzed using the covariance test.
Findings: The mean emotional regulation scores in the experimental group increased from 3.45 to 4.22, while the control group showed minimal change (3.42 to 3.43). Analysis of covariance showed that the effect of existential group therapy on emotional regulation of maltreated and uncared adolescents was significant.
Conclusion: Existential group therapy effectively improves emotional regulation in adolescents from disadvantaged and orphaned backgrounds. It is recommended that this intervention be integrated into welfare centers, with future studies examining its long-term effects.

Keywords

Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences
Volume 68, Issue 4
May and June 2025
Pages 1272-1280

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