Applied Psychology

Applied Psychology

The Effectiveness of Adolescent-Centered Mindfulness Training on Experiential Avoidance, Self-Critical Rumination among Female Adolescents with Social Anxiety

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Elahe Zerehsaz 1
Gholamreza Manshaee 2
1 Master's student in clinical psychology, Department of Psychology, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
10.48308/apsy.2026.241927.1916
Abstract
Aim: This study investigated the effectiveness of adolescent-centered mindfulness training on experiential avoidance and self-critical rumination among female adolescents with social anxiety.

Method: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest–follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of all female second-grade high school students in District 2 of Isfahan Province during the 2023–2024 academic year. Thirty adolescents who met the criteria for social anxiety, based on the Social Phobia Inventory, were selected from Amir al-Momenin School and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 participants each). Participants completed the Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire and the Self-Critical Rumination Scale at pretest, posttest, and follow-up. The experimental group received adolescent-centered mindfulness training, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA.

Results: The findings demonstrated that adolescent-centered mindfulness training significantly reduced experiential avoidance and self-critical rumination among female adolescents with social anxiety (p < 0.001). The observed improvements remained stable at follow-up assessment.

Conclusion: Adolescent-centered mindfulness training appears to be an effective intervention for reducing maladaptive cognitive-emotional processes associated with social anxiety in adolescents. The implementation of mindfulness-based group programs in schools and counseling centers is recommended to promote psychological well-being and emotional regulation among adolescents.
Keywords
Adolescent-Centered Mindfulness Training
Experiential Avoidance
Social Anxiety
Self-Critical Rumination
Subjects
Akbari, M., Mirzaei, H., Sadeghi, F. (2025). Effectiveness of mindfulness training on experiential avoidance, self-compassion, and physiological indices in women with breast cancer. Applied Family Therapy Journal, 5(1): 177-186. [Link]
Allaert, J., De Bruecker, M., Raes, F., De Raedt, R., Nagy, L., Vanderhasselt, MA. )2025(. Validation of the Dutch Self-Critical Rumination Scale (SCRS-NL). European Journal of Psychological Assessment. [Link]
Amani, F., Rawan, A. (2024). The effectiveness of mindfulness training on reducing experiential avoidance in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Iranian Journal of Clinical Psychology, 29(2): 115-130. [Link] [in Persian]
American Psychiatric Association D. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR): American psychiatric association Washington, DC; 2022. [Link]
Ariapooran, S., Goodarzi, N., & Karimi, J. (2025). The Effectiveness of Adolescent-Centered Mindfulness on Co-rumination and Depression in Adolescent Girls with Depressive Symptoms. Applied Psychology, 19(3): 209-231. [Link] [in Persian]
Asadi Zendejan, Zahra., Pourheidari, Sepideh. )2023(. The effectiveness of mindfulness parenting training on ambiguity tolerance and experiential avoidance of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder, First National Conference on Healthy Relationships and Positive Psychology, Mashhad. [Link] [in Persian]
Baghban, F., Sharifi, T., Ghasemi Pirbalouti, M. (2024). Comparison of the effectiveness of group training based on emotional regulation and adolescent-centered mindfulness group training on academic procrastination and academic buoyancy of adolescent girls. Rooyesh.13(11):145-154. [Link] [in Persian]
Behboodi, S F., Shavaisy, S., Afrooz, G A. (2024). The mediating role of inferiority feeling and self-critical rumination in the relationship between body image shame and social anxiety in adolescent girls. Rooyesh. 13(10): 1-10. [Link] [in Persian]
Bordick, D. Mindfulness skills for the children and adolescents. Monshee GR, Asli Azad, M., Hoseini, L., Tayebi, P. (Persian translator). )2017( First edition. Isfahan: Isfahan Islamic Azad University publication (Khorasgan (.
Cecen, AR., Gümüş, Z.) 2024. (The underlying mechanism for childhood psychological maltreatment and self-satisfaction: The serial mediating roles of self-critical rumination and self-compassion. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 1-17.‏ [Link]
Çelikbaş S, Akbayrak N. (2025(. Experiential avoidance and mindfulness as mediators in the relationship between cognitive fusion and social anxiety in patients with acne. Journal of Clinical Psychology, Advance online publication, 52-60.  [Link]
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2002). Research methods in education. Routledge.  [Link]
Connor, K. M., Davidson, J. R., Churchill, L. E., Sherwood, A., Foa, E., & Weisler, R. H. (2000). Psychometric properties of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN). New self-rating scale. The British journal of psychiatry: the journal of mental science, 176, 379–386. [Link]
Coutinho, M., Trindade, I. A., & Ferreira, C. (2021). Experiential avoidance, committed action and quality of life: Differences between college students with and without chronic illness. Journal of health psychology, 26(7): 1035–1045. [Link]
Dunn, N. A., & Luchner, A. F. (2022). The emotional impact of self-criticism on self-reflection and rumination. Psychology and psychotherapy, 95(4): 1126–1139. [Link]
Fani Mohammadabadi, M., Karami, S., Shah Heidari, A., Kamkar, M. (2023). The effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on emotional alexithymia, experiential avoidance, and self-compassion in adults with childhood trauma. Journal of Psychiatry, 11(4): 107-95. [Link] [in Persian]
Farhadi, M., Shadkam, S., Zoghipaidar, M. R. and Mohagheghi, H. (2022). The Mediating Role of Experiential Avoidance and Cognitive Fusion in the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Social Anxiety. Journal of Modern Psychological Researches, 17(67): 197-207. [Link] [in Persian]
Foroughi, P., manshaee, G., atash pour, SH. (2024). Comparison of the effectiveness of combination therapy based on virtual reality and mindfulness with brief mindfulness training on cognitive emotion regulation and mindfulness among people with panic disorder. Journal of Psychological Science, 23(142): 279-297.   [Link] [in Persian]
Gámez, W., Chmielewski, M., Kotov, R., Ruggero, C., & Watson, D. (2011). Development of a measure of experiential avoidance: the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire. Psychological assessment, 23(3): 692–713. [Link]
Giorgio, J. M., Sanflippo, J., Kleiman, E., Reilly, D., Bender, R. E., Wagner, C. A., Liu, R. T., & Alloy, L. B. (2010). An experiential avoidance conceptualization of depressive rumination: three tests of the model. Behaviour research and therapy, 48(10): 1021–1031. [Link]
Hadadi, S. and Tamannaeifar, M. (2022). The Comparison of Maladjusted Perfectionism, Maladaptive Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Rumination in Adolescents with High and Low Social Anxiety. Social Psychology Research, 12(45): 1-26. [Link] [in Persian]
Hassanvand Amozadeh, M. (2014). Normative assessment of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) in a non-clinical Iranian sample. Medical Sciences Studies, 26(1): 30-17. [Link] [in Persian]
Javadian Qomi, N., Sharifi, T., Mashhadizadeh, S., Ahmadi, R. (2024). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction training on experiential avoidance and impulsivity of female students with difficulty in emotional regulation. Quarterly Journal of Applied Psychological Research, 2024, 15(1): 167-149. [Link] [in Persian]
Karabey, T., Gülsoy, Z. (2025). Determination of Self-Critical Rumination levels and work stress levels in intensive care nurses: a descriptive, cross-sectional and relational study. Curr Psychol, 44, 10579–10588. [Link]
Khavari, M., Haji Alizadeh, K., Zarei, E., Dortaj, F. (2024).  Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Psychological Distress Syndromes, Rumination, and Self-Compassion in Students with Psychological Distress. Journal of Adolescent and Youth Psychological Studies (JAYPS), 5(2): 123-131. [Link]
Koydemir, S., Varol, M., Fehn, T., Bilgiç, ID., Gauglitz, I., Schütz, A. )2023(. A multilevel analysis of the relationship between leaders’ experiential avoidance and followers’ well-being. Current Psychology, 4 (10): 28344-28355. [Link]
Makadi, E., & Koszycki, D. (2020). Exploring connections between self-compassion, mindfulness, and social anxiety. Mindfulness, 11(2): 480–492. [Link]
Mansoori, N., Bolghan-Abadi, M. (2025). Narrative Review of Social Anxiety Disorder. Journal of Reaserch in Behavioral Sciences, 23 (1): 21-31. [Link] [in Persian]
Mao, L., Li, P., Wu, Y., Luo, L., & Hu, M. (2023). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for ruminative thinking: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of affective disorders, 321, 83–95. [Link]
Mehraban, R., Hosseininasab, S., Alivandivafa, M. (2022). Examining aggression, rumination and self-control under the influence of emotion regulation training and mindfulness training in students with low academic performance. Journal of Adolescent and Youth Psychological Studies, 3(3): 1–13. [Link]
Mehrafzoon, D., Sotoudeh Asl, N., Makvandhosseini, Sh. (2021) Developing a causal model of self-criticism mediated by personality traits in students of Islamic Azad University of Tehran. Knowledge and Research in Applied Psychology, 22 (2): 33-22. [Link] [in Persian]
Moghanloo, M., Dadfar, H. (2024). The relationship between self-criticism and feelings of loneliness with depression in the elderly: The mediating role of rumination. Psychology of Aging, 10(1): 110-89. [Link] [in Persian]
Moradi, A., Barki Irani, Z., Begian Koleh-e-Marz, M., Karimi Nejad, K., Zabit, M. (2017). Factor structure and psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (MEAQ). Social Cognition, 6(2): 86-57. [Link]
Mousapour, M., Mirzaei, H., Sadeghi, F. (2024). Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training on Experiential Avoidance, Self-Compassion, and Physiological Indices in Women with Breast Cancer. Applied Family Therapy Journal (AFTJ), 5(1): 177-186. [Link]
Nagy, LM., Shanahan, ML., Seaford, SP. )2023(. Nonsuicidal self‐injury and rumination: A meta‐analysis. Clinical Psychology, 79(1): 7-27. [Link]
Nekoei Esfahani, A., Bahramipour Esfahani, M., Golparvar, M. (2024).  Comparing the effectiveness of adolescent-centered mindfulness therapeutic approach and deep listening on academic vitality of students with anxiety disorder. Educational Psychology Studies, 21(55). [Link] [in Persian]
Nurollahi, A., Shahabizadeh, F., Nasri, M. (2023). Comparing the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Therapy and Paradoxical Treatment on Rumination in Adolescents with Social Anxiety Symptoms. Journal of Assessment and Research in Applied Counseling (JARAC), 5(4): 181-190. [Link] [in Persian]
Salari, N., Heidarian, P., Hassanabadi, M., Babajani, F., Abdoli, N., Aminian, M., & Mohammadi, M. (2024). Global Prevalence of Social Anxiety Disorder in Children, Adolescents and Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of prevention, 45(5): 795–813. [Link] [in Persian]
Seçer, İ., & Ulaş, S. (2021). An Investigation of the Effect of COVID-19 on OCD in Youth in the Context of Emotional Reactivity, Experiential Avoidance, Depression and Anxiety. International journal of mental health and addiction, 19(6): 2306–2319. [Link]
Shahian, H., Molaee, M., Saadat, S. (2024). Persian version of Self-Critical Rumination Scale (SCRS) in students. Rooyesh. 13(6): 231-240. [Link]
Smart, L. M., Peters, J. R., & Baer, R. A. (2016). Development and Validation of a Measure of Self-Critical Rumination. Assessment, 23(3): 321–332. [Link] [in Persian]
Soleimani, B., Dastbaz, A. & Gharibi, H. (2024). The Effectiveness of Metacognitive Therapy on Mind Reading, Autobiographical Memory, and Cognitive Emotion Regulation in Students with Social Anxiety Disorder. Applied Psychology, 18(4): 219-243. [Link] [in Persian]
Sriratanarungrueng, I., & Arikkatt, R. M. (2023). Exploring the Effectiveness of Guided Mindfulness Protocol on Experiential Avoidance, Smartphone Addiction, Sleep Quality, and General Psychological Distress Level in University Students in Bangkok, Thailand: A Mixed-method Study. Indian Journal of Positive Psychology, 14(4): 384-394. [Link]
Sullivan, R., Alhakim, J. (2025). A mixed methods study investigating alexithymia, experiential avoidance, and psychological distress: Insights into men with high externally oriented thinking. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 35, article number 100866. [Link]
Stefan, S., Stroian, P., Silviu, M., Fodor, L., & Nechita, D. (2025). Self-criticism, experiential avoidance, social anxiety and depression in an experience sampling paradigm. Current Psychology, 1-13.‌[Link]
Taheri, A., Manshaei, G R., Abedi, A. (2020). Comparison of the Effectiveness of Adolescent-Centered Mindfulness (MBCT) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) on Self-Esteem and Sleep Disorder of Bereaved Adolescents. QJCR; 19 (75): 34-64. [Link] [in Persian]
Torres Lancheros, JE., Vargas-Nieto, JC., Arcila Ibarr, S. (2023). Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Decrease Emotional Symptoms, Self-Criticism, Rumination, and Worry in College Students: A Preliminary Study of the Effects of Group Self-Compassion-Based Interventions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(19): 7633. [Link]
Vajdian, M., Arefi, M., Manshee, G. (2020). The effect of adolescent-centered mindfulness training on depression and anxiety in girls with emotional breakdowns. Cognitive Analytical Psychology,11(43): 55-68. [Link] [in Persian]
Wang, Y., Tian, J., & Yang, Q. (2024). Experiential Avoidance Process Model: A Review of the Mechanism for the Generation and Maintenance of Avoidance Behavior. Psychiatry and clinical psychopharmacology, 34(2): 179–190. [Link]
Webb, T., L., Miles, E., & Sheeran, P. (2012). Dealing with feeling: a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of strategies derived from the process model of emotion regulation. Psychological bulletin, 138(4): 775–808. [Link]
Weissbrod CS, Colangelo A. 2020. Understanding and Treating Social Anxiety in Female Adolescents. Health Service Psychology, 46(2): 93–101. [Link]
Xu, F., Zhu, W., Chen, Q., & Tang, Y. (2023). The relationship between mindfulness, anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: A meta-analysis of correlational studies. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 994205. [Link]
Yan, Y., Zhou, X., Zhou, J., Chen, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhou, X., & Luo, J. (2025). The relationship between facial negative physical self and social anxiety in college students: the role of rumination and self-compassion. Frontiers in psychology, 16, 1450174. [Link]