The effectiveness of life expectancy training based on acceptance and commitment on developed defense mechanisms and competition anxiety in students with high-risk behaviors

Abstract

The present study was initiated with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of life expectancy training based on acceptance and commitment on developed defense mechanisms and competitive anxiety in students with high-risk behaviors. The research method was a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test-post-test design and follow-up with the experimental group and the control group. The statistical population was all junior high school students involved in high-risk behaviors, from which 40 students were selected purposefully and according to the entry and exit criteria and were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group. All subjects were assessed in three stages of the research using research tools. These tools were developed defense mechanisms (Anders, 1993) and competitive anxiety (Yousefi, 1402). While the control group was on the waiting list, the experimental group received eight ninety-minute sessions of life expectancy training based on acceptance and commitment. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and analysis of variance with repeated measures. The results showed that both methods were effective in improving the dependent variables. According to these results, it can be said that with the help of this method, defense mechanisms can be developed and competition anxiety can be improved in students with high-risk behaviors.