Comparing the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy based on mindfulness with emotion-oriented therapy on cognitive flexibility and impulsivity in adolescents with Internet addiction.

Addiction to the Internet and virtual space and its increasing prevalence in recent years among teenagers has created challenging conditions for them and their parents. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy based on mindfulness with emotion-oriented therapy on cognitive flexibility and impulsivity in adolescents with Internet addiction. The research method was the design of pre-test, post-test, follow-up with the control group. The statistical population included teenagers with Internet addiction living in Tehran, and 45 eligible volunteers were selected through available sampling. In order to collect data, Yang Internet Addiction Questionnaire (1996), Zuckerman Impulsivity Scale (1978), Dennis and Vanderwaal Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire (2010) and Barratt Impulsivity Scale (1959) were used. Eight 90-minute sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy based on mindfulness and emotion-oriented therapy were performed separately for the experimental groups. The data were analyzed using the method of analysis of variance with repeated measurements and Ben-Ferroni post hoc test. The results showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy based on mindfulness and emotion-oriented therapy increase cognitive flexibility and decrease impulsivity. Based on the findings of the present study, cognitive-behavioral therapy based on mindfulness and emotion-oriented therapy on cognitive flexibility and impulsivity in adolescents with Internet addiction had no significant difference from each other.