Introduction: Social anxiety has adverse effects on students' psychological and academic performance; given the importance of this issue, the present study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness and emotion regulation training on social anxiety in students. Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and control group, including a two-month follow-up period. The statistical population of this study included all students of the Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch, in the academic year 2023-2024. A total of 45 students were selected using the convenience sampling method and were randomly assigned to three groups: experimental group 1 (15 participants), experimental group 2 (15 participants), and a control group (15 participants). Data collection was conducted using the Social Anxiety Scale (SAS, Jarabak, 1996). After administering the pre-test in person, the intervention groups underwent training, followed by a post-test for both groups and a follow-up test after two months. Mindfulness training was based on Kabat-Zinn’s (2003) model, while emotion regulation training was based on Gross’s (2002) model, both conducted in eight group sessions for the intervention groups. Data analysis was performed in SPSS-24 software using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The findings showed that there was a significant difference between the three groups in the social anxiety variable (F=29.65, P=0.01); in fact, there was a significant difference between the control group and the intervention groups (P<0.05). However, the results of the Bonferroni test showed that there was no significant difference between the two intervention groups of mindfulness training and emotion regulation. (P<0.05); in fact, both interventions led to a similar reduction in social anxiety in students. Conclusion: In summary, it can be concluded that mindfulness training and emotion regulation training both reduced social anxiety in students in the same way.
Zamanpour S, Bakhshipour A, Khoshnevisan Z. Comparison of the Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training and Emotion Regulation Training on Social Anxiety in Students. IJNR 2025; 20 (4) URL: http://ijnr.ir/article-1-3020-en.html