The Effectiveness of Cognitive-Based Mindfulness Therapy on Cognitive Flexibility and Psychological Capital of Adolescents

Background: Mindfulness is the third wave of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) approach proposed in recent years to promote a different relationship or attitude with thoughts, feelings, and emotions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive group therapy on the cognitive flexibility and psychological capital of adolescents. Methods: Accordingly, a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study with a control group was conducted in which a sample of 30 high school male students with the lowest scores in the Psychological Flexibility and Psychological Capital Questionnaires were included and randomly assigned into two groups of experimental and control groups. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy was performed for the experimental group during 8 seasons of 90 minutes, one season per week. No intervention was performed in the control group. After the completion of sessions, a posttest was performed on experimental and control groups. Results: The results of covariance analysis showed a significant difference in the mean posttest scores between experimental and control groups; the level of cognitive flexibility and psychological capital components was significantly increased in individuals under intervention. Conclusion: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy seems to increase cognitive flexibility and psychological capital in adolescents.