Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy on Self-Concept of Visually Impaired Adolescents

Objectives: The present study has been conducted to determine the effectiveness of cognitivebehavioral group-therapy on the development of visually impaired adolescents’ self-concept. Methods: This study is a semi-experimental pre-test and post-test model. The study population consisted of visually impaired male students of the primary and secondary high school at the Omid-e-Mashhad Educational Center for the Blind in the 2014-2015 academic year. Beck’s Self-Concept Scale was used as a research tool, and 20 students with scores one deviation standard below the mean were randomly selected and divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received nine weekly sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapies, each of 90 minutes. The post-test data analysis was performed by conducting SPSS using descriptive statistics methods (mean and standard deviation for the study variables and tables) and inferential statistics methods (including Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, t-test for independent groups, Lewin test, and co-variance test). Results: The results of covariance analysis revealed that the intervention of cognitive behavioral group counseling can significantly increase the self-concept among the participants of the experimental group. Discussion: Cognitive-behavioral group counseling sessions can improve the self-concept of visually impaired adolescents. Moreover, positive self-concept will increase their social interaction and mental health.