A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Self-Efficacy Strategies Training and Positive Thinking Training on Sense of Coherence and Fear of Intimacy among High School Students

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of self-efficacy strategies training and positive thinking training on sense of coherence and fear of intimacy among female high school students. This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest–follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of female high school students in Qaemshahr during the 2025–2026 academic year, from which 60 participants were purposively selected and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (self-efficacy and positive thinking) and one control group. Data were collected using Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (1993) and Descutner and Thelen’s Fear of Intimacy Scale (1991). Interventions were conducted in 8 and 10 sessions (45 minutes each). Data were analyzed using Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Shapiro–Wilk, Levene’s test, ANCOVA, and repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS22. The results indicated that both interventions significantly increased sense of coherence and reduced fear of intimacy (p<0.05). Moreover, significant between-group effects were observed, and comparisons revealed that self-efficacy training had a significantly stronger effect than positive thinking training on both dependent variables (p<0.01). Both interventions were effective in improving psychological outcomes; however, self-efficacy strategies training demonstrated greater effectiveness due to its direct impact on perceived control and personal competence, suggesting its priority in school-based mental health interventions.