Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ’Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Īlām (Aug 2024)
Effectiveness of Group Training Based on Protection Motivation Theory in the Lifestyle, Negative Thoughts, and Dysfunctional Attitudes of Depressed People
Abstract
Introduction: Protection motivation theory is one of the most effective theories in predicting preventive behaviors. It first emphasizes motivation and then the development of adaptive skills. This theory is used to understand and predict health intentions and behaviors that protect a person from traumatic events. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of group training based on protection motivation theory in the lifestyle, negative thoughts, and dysfunctional attitudes of depressed people. Material & Methods: In this study, we adopted a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population was all clients suffering from mild to moderate depression who visited the Ghaemshahr Help Center in the spring of 1402. Considering that 15-20 people are used in group training, a number of 40 people in two experimental groups and controls were selected by the available sampling method and answered the health-promoting lifestyle questionnaires of Walker and colleagues (1987), Weisman and Beck's dysfunctional attitudes by Wiseman and Beck (1978), and Kendall and Hollon's (1980) negative self-concepts. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, multivariate covariance analysis, and univariate covariance analysis. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results of the analysis of covariance demonstrated that the mean scores of lifestyles, negative spontaneous thoughts, and ineffective attitudes in experimental and control groups had a statistically significant difference of less than 1% (P=0.01). Moreover, the post-test mean scores of negative self-inflicted thoughts and ineffective attitudes of subjects in the experimental group under self-protection motivation training decreased compared to the control group who were not under training. Furthermore, the effect size for group membership for lifestyle was equal to (Eta=0.83), for negative spontaneous thoughts, it was equal to (Eta=0.69), and for ineffective attitudes, it was equal to (Eta=0.62). Discussion & Conclusion: Self-protection motivation training is effective in improving lifestyle and reducing negative self-esteem and ineffective attitudes of depressed people. According to the nature of the protection motivation theory, it is suggested to be used to improve the lifestyle, negative thoughts, and ineffective attitude of depressed people.
