The Effectiveness of Mental Immunization Training on Alexithymia, Self-determination and Life Orientation of Adolescents with hearing impairment

The purpose of the present study was to investigate of the effectiveness of mental immunization training on alexithymia, self-determination and life orientation of adolescents with hearing impairment in Tehran Township. The present research was a semi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test design and control group. The participants were 28 male adolescents with hearing impairment from Tehran Township high school using an available method. Subjects were divided into experimental and control groups, each group consisting of 14 adolescents. Experimental group received psychological immunization program in 10 sessions for 50 minutes while control group did not. The instruments of present research were Toronto alexithymia scale (1994), Deci & Ryan basic need satisfaction questionnaire (2000) and Scheier & Carver life orientation test (1994). Multivariate analysis of covariance was used for analyzing the data. The results of MANCOVA showed that mental immunization training had a significant effect on the alexithymia, self-determination and life orientation of adolescents with hearing impairment. Therefore, mental immunization training can reduce the alexithymia and improve the self-determination and life orientation of adolescents with hearing impairment.