Adolescents with Confrontational Disobedience and Social Incompatibility: An Experimental Approach

Objective: The study aims to explore and experimentally examine teenagers with confrontational disobedience and social incompatibility. Methods and Materials: This study employed a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group to assess the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in improving social adjustment and reducing oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms in adolescents. A total of 40 adolescents from Tehran were recruited in 2019. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and then randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=20) or a control group (n=20). Social Adjustment Scale: This scale, developed by Thorpe et al., measures various aspects of social functioning, including interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, and problem-solving skills. Oppositional Defiant Disorder Rating Scale: This scale, developed by Harada et al., assesses the severity of ODD symptoms, such as argumentativeness, defiance, and irritability.The experimental group received 12 sessions of CBT, each lasting 45 minutes. The control group did not receive any intervention. Pre-test, post-test, and follow-up assessments were conducted to measure changes in social adjustment and ODD symptoms. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up data, controlling for baseline differences between the groups. Findings: The findings revealed that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was effective in significantly reducing oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms and improving social adjustment in adolescents. These positive effects persisted at the follow-up assessment (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective intervention for reducing oppositional defiant behavior and improving social adjustment in adolescents. By targeting these specific issues, CBT can indirectly contribute to help reduce stress in teenage relationships.