Abstract:

In this study the effects of social problem solving skills training on university students’ social problem solving behaviors and thoughts related with anger and trait anxiety level is examined The research is a kind of quasi experimental study which 34 students took part in the study that 17 of them were in the experiment group and 17 of them were in the control group In the research a psycho educational program composed of eight sessions which is formed considering the Problem Solving Therapy D’ Zurilla and Nezu 2007; Nezu Nezu and D’ Zurilla 2007 was performed to the experiment group and during this time control group did not take any of them The data was gathered by using both qualitative and quantitative methods In the analysis of quantative data covariance analysis Wilcoxon ranked test Mann Whitney U test and t test for related samplings were used The qualitative data were also obtained from experiment group using a document analysis Findings indicated that the intervention program was effective on improving the students’ social problem solving skills and anger related cognitions and this effect went on long lasting Another findings in this research the intervention program was not any significiant effects on the students’ anger related behaviors such as aggressive behaviors calm behaviors anxious behaviors and anger related cognitions such as his her anger the other people himself herself According to points of trait anxiety levels there was a significiant differences both the experimental and control groups’ posttest results and this results was positive At the follow up studies the follow up results was lower than posttest Finally it is possible to say that intervention program was effective on enhancing students’ social problem solving skills Keywords: college students problem solving therapy social problem solving anger related behaviors and cognitions trait anxiety

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