Comparing the Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Therapy and Reality Therapy on Mental Vitality and Cognitive Fusion in Female Students

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of solution-focused therapy and reality therapy on mental vitality and cognitive fusion in female students. Methods and Materials: The research employed a semi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up phases including a control group. The population consisted of 185 female students from Islamic Azad University of Neyshabur in the 2021–2022 academic year, out of which 45 were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group. Group 1 received seven 120-minute sessions of solution-focused therapy, while Group 2 received eight 60-minute sessions of reality therapy. The control group was placed on a waiting list. Data collection instruments included the Subjective Vitality Scale (Ryan & Frederick, 1997) and the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (Gillanders et al., 2010). Data analysis was conducted using repeated measures ANOVA. Findings: Both therapeutic approaches significantly improved participants' scores on cognitive fusion and mental vitality compared to the control group (p<0.01). Specifically, solution-focused therapy led to a greater increase in mental vitality, although the difference between the two treatment groups was not statistically significant. In contrast, reality therapy had a significantly greater effect on reducing cognitive fusion compared to solution-focused therapy (p<0.05). Additionally, the effects of time and the interaction between treatment and time were significant in both outcomes. Conclusion: Both solution-focused therapy and reality therapy are effective interventions for enhancing mental vitality and reducing cognitive fusion in female students. Reality therapy appears to be more beneficial for cognitive defusion, while solution-focused therapy may be more impactful for improving subjective vitality.