Article
The Effectiveness of Positive Psychotherapy on Physical and Emotional
Dimensions of Girls with Persistent Depression
Froogh Abiri Bonab: PhD Student in Psychology, , Department of Psychology, Tabriz Branch,
Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.
froogh.abiri@gmail.com
Marziyeh Alivandi Vafa−
:Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Tabriz Branch, Islamic
Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.
m.alivand@iaut.ac.ir
Ali Khademi: Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad
University, Tabriz, Iran.
dr_ali_khademi@yahoo.com
GholamHossein Javanmard: Associate Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of
Psychology, Payam Noor University, Thran, Iran.
javanmardhossein@gmail.com
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of group and individual positive
psychotherapy on the physical and emotional dimensions of orphaned and abused teenage
girls. A sample of 45 girls were selected through convenience sampling and were assigned to
three groups (two experimental groups and one control group) with equal numbers of
participants. The experimental groups received positive interventions, while the control
group did not receive any intervention. Data were gathered using the Beck Depression
Inventory. The analysis of variance with repeated measures revealed that individual positive
intervention was more effective than group positive intervention in alleviating the emotional
symptoms of persistent depression. In the individual positive intervention group, the mean
scores for emotional symptoms of persistent depression at post-test (mean = 0.67) and
follow-up (mean = 0.93) were significantly lower than those in the group positive
intervention group (post-test mean = 2.20; follow-up mean = 2.33) and the control group
(post-test mean = 2.93; follow-up mean = 2.57). Although the mean scores for physical
symptoms of persistent depression in the individual positive intervention group at post-test
(mean = 1.07) and follow-up (mean = 1.47) were also lower than those in the group positive
intervention group (post-test mean = 2.13; follow-up mean = 2.33) and the control group
(post-test mean = 3.70; follow-up mean = 3.43), the findings indicated that both individual
and group positive interventions had the same significant effect on the physical symptoms of
persistent depression. Therefore, the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy is more
pronounced for emotional symptoms than for physical symptoms of persistent depression
among the girls.
−. Corresponding author
2476-3705 © University of Isfahan
This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses BY-NC-ND 4.0)
10.22108/PPLS.2025.136343.2402108 Positive Psychology Research, Vol. 10, Issue 2, No.38, 2024
Keywords: Emotional Dimensions, Foster Care/Irresponsible Parenting Adolescent Girls,
Persistent Depression, Physical Dimensions, Positive Intervention
Introduction
Orphanhood and abuse are significant
psychiatrist, having no criminal record, not
receiving other medical services in the past
risk factors for adolescents, which can lead
six months, and being literate. Exclusion
to poor physical and mental health,
criteria included failing to attend at least
academic difficulties, and social
two treatment sessions and engaging in
challenges. Previous research indicates
other interventions or psychological
higher rates of cognitive, emotional, and
programs concurrently with the treatment.
developmental disorders, including
The Beck Depression Inventory was used
depression, which adversely affect their
as the measurement tool. After explaining
psychological well-being. In 1998, Martin
the research objectives and obtaining
Seligman introduced positive psychology,
consent from the participants, a pre-test
shifting the clinical focus toward
was administered, and the necessary
enhancing happiness and well-being rather
measures were taken to plan the
than solely addressing negative symptoms.
intervention sessions. Following the
This study examined the effectiveness of
application of the independent variable, the
group and individual positive interventions
dependent variable was assessed using a
in reducing emotional and physical
questionnaire, and the data were analyzed
symptoms of persistent depression among
using repeated measures analysis of
orphaned and abused adolescent girls,
variance. To implement the positive
leading to two proposed hypotheses: 1.
psychotherapy sessions, the Parks-Shiner
There is a difference in the effectiveness of
(2009) treatment programs, developed
individual and group positive
under the supervision of Seligman at the
psychotherapy on the emotional
University of Pennsylvania, were utilized.
dimensions of girls with persistent
The program consisted of six 90-minute
depression. 2. There is a difference in the
sessions conducted in both group settings
effectiveness of individual and group
and individually.
positive psychotherapy on the physical
dimensions of girls with persistent
depression.
Method
To meet the research objectives, 45
orphaned or abused teenage girls in Bonab,
Iran, under the supervision of the Welfare
Department and the Relief Committee,
were selected using purposive sampling.
They were divided into three groups: a
control group (15 participants), an
individual experimental group (15
participants), and a group experimental
group (15 participants). The participants
were selected based on a psychiatrist's
diagnosis obtained through a structured
clinical interview. Inclusion criteria for the
study included: providing informed
consent to participate in the intervention
program, not having a concurrent
psychiatric disorder as diagnosed by a
Results
To examine the assumptions of the
analysis of variance (ANOVA) test for the
pre-test, post-test, and follow-up scores of
persistent depression and its
subcomponents across all three groups, the
normality of score distributions were
calculated using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov
test. The results indicated that the
components followed a normal distribution
(p < 0.05). The homogeneity of variances
was evaluated using Levene's test, which
confirmed that this assumption was valid
for the aforementioned components (p <
0.05). The sphericity assumption was
tested using Mauchly's test; results for the
pre-test scores of persistent depression and
its subcomponents showed that this
assumption was not valid for any of the
variables (p > 0.05), except for the
subcomponent of physical symptoms ofThe Effectiveness of Positive Psychotherapy on Physical and Emotional ... persistent depression (p < 0.05). Since the
epsilon values were less than 0.75, the
Greenhouse-Geisser correction was
applied. Finally, Box's M test results
indicated that the assumption of
homogeneity of variance-covariance
matrices was met for all subcomponents of
persistent depressive symptoms (p <
0.001). The mean scores for emotional
symptoms of persistent depression in the
individual positive intervention group
(mean = 2.93) and the group positive
intervention group (mean = 3.13) during
the pre-test were nearly equal to the mean
score in the control group (mean = 2.87).
However, in the post-test, the mean score
for emotional symptoms in the individual
positive intervention group (mean = 0.67)
was significantly lower than that of the
group positive intervention group (mean =
2.20) and the control group (mean = 2.93).
In the follow-up test, the mean scores for
emotional symptoms in the individual
positive intervention group (mean = 0.93)
remained substantially lower than those in
the group positive intervention group
(mean = 2.33) and the control group (mean
= 2.87).For persistent depressive physical
symptoms, the mean scores in the
individual positive intervention group
(mean = 3.53) and the group positive
intervention group (mean = 4.07) during
the pre-test were somewhat comparable to
the mean score in the control group (mean= 3.93). However, in the post-test, the
mean scores for physical symptoms in the
individual positive intervention group
(mean = 1.07) were significantly lower
than those in the group level positive
intervention (mean = 2.13) and the control
groups (mean = 3.93). In the follow-up
test, the mean scores for physical
symptoms in the individual positive
intervention group (mean = 1.47) remained
lower than those in the group positive
intervention group (mean = 2.33) and the
control group (mean = 3.93). The results
indicated that individual positive
psychotherapy effectively reduced
emotional symptoms of persistent
Marziyeh Alivandi Vafa et al. 109
depression in orphaned and abused
adolescent girls who received the
intervention. However, no significant
difference was observed in the effects of
this intervention on physical symptoms
between the groups that received
individual versus group interventions; both
formats had similar effects on the physical
dimensions of the participants.
Conclusion
Considering the findings and the greater
effectiveness of individual therapy
compared to group therapy, it can be
argued that persistent depression affects
various dimensions of an individual's life,
including physical, cognitive, emotional,
and motivational aspects. A lack of
awareness of positive human assets and
capabilities, combined with a focus on
depressive symptoms, can hinder
improvement and prolong the duration of
the disorder. Experts suggest that
awareness, focus, and the strengthening of
positive emotions and capabilities can
effectively address various symptoms of
depression and help overcome negative
emotions. Enhancing and focusing on these
capabilities can be particularly effective in
identifying the root causes of an
individual's problems. In cases of
persistent depression, where individuals
experience low mood for extended periods,
engaging in purposeful and structured
relationships within a positive psychology
framework can significantly transform
their worldview and attitudes toward life
events. Conversely, experiences from
researchers indicate that group counseling
may have limitations, such as participants’
inability to disclose personal issues.
Therefore, positive interventions, due to
their short-term nature, comprehensibility
of techniques, and cost-effectiveness
compared to other treatment approaches,
can be suitable for individuals with
persistent depression. This study focused
on orphaned and abused teenage girls
under the care of the Welfare and Relief
Committee of East Azerbaijan Province,110 Bonab. Consequently, caution should be
exercised when generalizing the results to
other unaccompanied teenagers. Future
research should compare the effectiveness
of this method with other therapeutic
approaches. Other limitations of this study
include its single-sex sample, reliance on a
questionnaire, and use of a non-random
sampling method.
Ethical Considerations
Positive Psychology Research, Vol. 10, Issue 2, No.38, 2024
Author Contributions: All authors contributed to
the study. The first author provided the treatments
to the participants and wrote the initial draft of the
manuscript. The second author supervised the
whole process of the research. The third author
conducted the data analysis and provided critical
insights for the interpretation of results. The fourth
author assisted with the literature review and
contributed to the development of the research
methodology.
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that there
are no conflicts of interest related to this study.
Funding: The authors did not receive any financial
Compliance with Ethical Guidelines: We adhered
support for this research.
to all ethical standards throughout the research
Acknowledgments: The authors wish to express
their gratitude to all participants for their time and
confidentiality of participants’ identities and
involvement in this study.
securing informed consent from each participant.Positive Psychology Research
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pp: ,1403), Summer 38 (2024, 10th year, Issue 2, serial (
1403/ 11
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Accepted date:
1401/ 12
/
18 Received date:
Research Article
The Effectiveness of Positive Psychotherapy on the Physical and Emotional
Dimensions of Girls with Persistent Depression