Efficacy of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Difficulties in Emotional Regulation and Psychological Well-being of Students with COVID-19 Anxiety

 During the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide quarantine, many universities were closed and continued their activities electronically. This issue caused many students to experience high anxiety. In this regard, the present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of online cognitive-behavioral therapy on the difficulties in emotional regulation and psychological well-being of students with the anxiety of COVID-19.

 The present research method was semi-experimental and its design was pre-test-post-test with the control group. The statistical population of the research included the students of Tarbiat Modares University in the academic year 2021. The study sample includes 30 students with COVID-19 anxiety who were selected using the available sampling method and randomly placed in two experimental groups (n=15) and control a group (n=15). The collection tool included a questionnaire on COVID-19 anxiety, difficulty in emotional regulation, and psychological well-being. The experimental group received 90-minute sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy, but the control group did not receive any intervention. Finally, the obtained data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance.

 The results of covariance analysis showed that online cognitive-behavioral therapy significantly increases psychological well-being and reduces difficulties in emotional regulation in students with COVID-19 anxiety (p<0.01). Also, 94% of the total variances of the experimental and control groups are caused by the effect of the independent variable.

 Considering the effectiveness of online cognitive-behavioral therapy on emotional regulation and psychological well-being of students with COVID-19 anxiety, to quickly provide medical services during acute and pandemic conditions, this method can be used for other psychological disorders.