The Effectiveness of Group Training about Cognitive Emotion Regulation on Improving Mental Health in Delinquent Male Adolescents of Kerman City

Background: Delinquent adolescents suffer from some mental disorders and understanding and managing their emotions can decrease their mental disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive emotion regulation group training on improving mental health in delinquent male adolescents.   Methods: This quasi- experimental research was done in preintervention / postintervention form with a control group. The sample group consisted of ۹۰ delinquent adolescents from Kerman Youth Detention Center selected through census method and were divided into two groups of intervention and control group. Members of the experimental group received cognitive emotion regulation group training. Data collection was performed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Data analysis was conducted using t-test for dependent and independent variables and through SPSS۲۲.   Results: There was significant difference between preintervention and postintervention mean scores of the experimental group in regard to physical symptoms, anxiety, depression and social dysfunction, while such difference was not observed in the control group. Also, after the educational intervention, there was significant difference between control and experimental groups in the above symptoms.   Conclusion: The results of this study showed that cognitive emotion regulation group training was effective in increasing the mental health of delinquent male adolescents of Kerman city. Hence, cognitive emotion regulation group training can be recommended as an effective method for improving mental health.

Keywords:

Cognitive emotion regulation , mental health , Delinquent , Adolescent