Comparison of the Effect of Group Behavioral Activation Treatment and Group Cognitive Therapy on Positive and Negative Emotions, and Emotional Regulation Processes

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of group behavioral activation treatment (BA) and group cognitive therapy (CT) on positive and negative emotions and emotional regulation processes. The sample consisted of 27 university students with subsyndromal anxiety and depressive symptoms who were selected through purposeful sampling and then were randomly assigned to two groups. One group received 8 sessions of BA and the other group received 8 sessions of CT. Participants completed the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire before and after the treatments. Results indicated that BA was superior to CT on increasing positive emotions but the both treatments were equal on decreasing negative emotions. There were some differences between the both treatments in emotional regulation processes.