The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy on body image concerns, sensitivity to social rejection, and peer relationships in girls with precocious puberty (a quasi-experimental study)

Abstract

Introduction: The development of physical changes associated with puberty earlier than usual is known as precocious puberty. The emergence of this phenomenon is associated with serious challenges for the individual, and accordingly, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on body image concerns, sensitivity to social rejection, and peer relationships in girls with precocious puberty (a quasi-experimental study). Method: The present study was an applied study in terms of its purpose and a quasi-experimental study in terms of its nature and method of data collection, and a pre-test and post-test design with a control group was used to conduct it. The statistical population of the present study included girls between 11 and 13 years of age who referred to the Endocrinology Clinic in Tehran, which was 400 people. 30 of the girls were selected purposively and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. Both groups completed the pre-test, and then the experimental group received cognitive-behavioral therapy. Then, a post-test was conducted on both groups. Data collection in this study was through the Body Image Fear Questionnaire by Littleton et al. (2005), the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire by Downey and Feldman (1996), and the Peer Relationship Questionnaire by Hudson (1992). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26 software. Findings: The results showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy has an effect on body image concerns, social rejection sensitivity, and peer relationships in girls with precocious puberty. Conclusion: Therefore, cognitive-behavioral therapy has an effect on body image concerns, social rejection sensitivity, and peer relationships in girls with precocious puberty.