Rehearsal of positive self-statements and restructured negative self-statements to increase self-esteem and decrease...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Mental Health

Background:

• Low self-esteem and depression are significant concerns among undergraduates.
• Cognitive restructuring techniques show promise in addressing negative self-perceptions.
• The Automatic Thought Questionnaire-Revised (ATQ-R) can identify maladaptive thought patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of self-statement rehearsal in enhancing self-esteem.
• To assess the impact of self-statement rehearsal on reducing depression scores.
• To determine if modified self-statements derived from the ATQ-R can alter psychological well-being.

Main Methods:

• Sixty undergraduates with low self-esteem participated.
• A rehearsal group read 15 tailored self-statements thrice daily for two weeks.
• Self-statements were generated by restructuring negative and positive thoughts identified via the ATQ-R.

Main Results:

• The self-statement rehearsal procedure led to a significant increase in self-esteem scores.
• Participants demonstrated a significant decrease in depression scores.
• The ATQ-R effectively identified self-statements significantly correlated with changes in self-esteem and depression.

Conclusions:

• Rehearsing adaptive self-statements is an effective method for improving self-esteem and reducing depression in vulnerable undergraduates.
• Cognitive modification of personal thought content can yield measurable psychological benefits.
• The ATQ-R serves as a valuable tool for personalizing cognitive interventions.