The Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy on Self-Criticism and Internalized Shame in Students Experiencing Failure in the University Entrance Exam
Keywords:
Emotion-Focused Therapy, Self-Criticism, Internal Shame, Konkoor Failure, Single-Case DesignAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) on reducing self-criticism and internal shame in female students who experienced failure in the university entrance exam (Konkoor).
Methods and Materials: This research was a single-case experimental design with a multiple baseline and one-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of female Konkoor repeaters in Karaj with at least one unsuccessful attempt in the 2024-2025 national exam. Three participants were selected voluntarily based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and received the EFT protocol (Greenberg, 2004) in 8 individual 90-minute sessions. Research instruments included the Levels of Self-Criticism Scale (Thompson & Zuroff, 2004) (Thompson & Zuroff, 2004) and the Internalized Shame Scale (Cook, 2013) (Cook, 1998). Data were analyzed using within-condition (median, mean, stability envelope, range, relative and absolute level change) and between-condition analyses (trend and level changes, PND, Tau-U, NAP, IRD) along with Hedges’ g effect size.
Findings: Results indicated that self-criticism and internal shame scores were high and highly stable during the baseline phase. Following the intervention, a sharp, stable, and consistent decrease was observed in both variables across all participants. The PND index was 100% for both variables in all three cases. The mean percentage of improvement in the follow-up phase was 17.85% for self-criticism and 40.50% for internal shame. Tau-U and Hedges’ g effect sizes were also very large and significant.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that Emotion-Focused Therapy is an effective and durable deep cognitive-experiential intervention for reducing self-criticism and internal shame resulting from Konkoor failure in female students. It is recommended that this approach be applied in academic counseling centers.
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References
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