Background and Purpose: Social anxiety disorder is one of the most common disorders of late childhood and adolescence, associated with impaired daily functioning and a significant reduction in quality of life. Given that adolescence is a sensitive period in personality formation, finding effective treatment for social anxiety disorder that reduces the severity and depth of its symptoms, has considerable importance. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness training based stress reduction (MBSR) and attention bias modification training (ABMT) for reducing social anxiety disorder.
Method: The research method was semi-experimental with pre-test- post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of all students of 13 to 15 year old in Astaneh Ashrafieh city in the academic year of 2017-2018. At first, using a convenience sampling method, two schools were selected among the schools of that area. After that, 45 students who had a high social anxiety score selected and assigned in three equal groups (two experimental groups and one control group). For one experimental group, MBSR was performed in eight 60- minute sessions, and for the second experimental group, ABMT was performed in four 30- minute sessions. The control group also did not receive any intervention. The research instrument was Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents (Masia-Warner, Storch, Pincus, Klein, Heimberg & Liebowitz, 2003) and data were analyzed by one-way covariance analysis method
Results: The results showed that MBSR and ABMT was effective in reducing social anxiety disorder scores (p<0.05, F=26.32). Also, based on the results of the post hoc test, MBSR (MD=49.95) was significantly more effective than ABMT (MD=63.02) in reducing social anxiety in female students (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results showed that both methods used in this study were effective in reducing social anxiety, but MBSR due to group performance as well as continuous homework compared to the ABMT, has been more effective.