The effectiveness of choice theory training on the mental health of adolescent girls

Abstract

Purposes: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of choice theory on the mental health of students. Materials and Methods: The present study followed a quasi-experimental method with pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included the entire female students in Grade 2 of high schools in Isfahan city in the 2017–2018 academic years. The sample comprised fifty high-school female students selected by a multistage cluster sampling method and assigned randomly and alike into two experimental and control groups. The experimental group weekly received choice theory training for 8, 90 min sessions. The control group was also on a waiting list. The employed instrument was Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire. The data were analyzed by the analysis of covariance test. Results: The findings revealed that the effect of choice theory training on increasing mental health and its components (insomnia, social function, and somatic symptoms) were statistically significant (P < 0.001); however, the effect of this method on depression was not effective (P = 0.078). Conclusion: In light of the findings drawn from this study, it seems that we can employ choice theory training as an effective approach to improve the mental health of adolescent girls in schools.