The Effectiveness of Self-Working Training Program on Social Anxiety Disorder, Rumination, and Distress Tolerance in Male Students of Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch

The main objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a Self-Working educational-therapeutic program on social anxiety, rumination, and distress tolerance among male students at Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch. The specific objectives include determining the effectiveness of this program on social anxiety, determining its effectiveness on rumination, and determining its effectiveness on distress tolerance.

Randomized controlled trial with parallel groups, single-blind, on 40 students. Simple randomization using a random number table. Allocation concealment using sealed envelopes. Trial phase is not applicable.

At Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch. After informed consent, pretest, random assignment to two groups, 14 sessions for the experimental group, posttest for both groups. Participants will be blinded to group assignment.

Male students of Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch; age 18 to 30 years; score above the mean on the Social Phobia Inventory and Ruminative Responses Scale; score below the mean on the Distress Tolerance Scale; informed consent; no history of similar Self-Working programs; no concurrent treatment; no severe psychiatric disorders; no chronic physical diseases; no history of substance abuse.

Experimental group: 14 group sessions of 90 minutes each of Self-Working, including six stages: body-working, emotion-working, perception-working, attention-working, future-working, and life-working. Control group: no intervention, assessed only at pretest and posttest, offered content after the study if willing.

Social anxiety; rumination; distress tolerance.

After obtaining informed consent and completing the pretest questionnaires, eligible participants will be randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. Simple randomization will be used at the individual level. The randomization sequence will be generated using a random number table. Each participant will be assigned a unique code, and based on the generated sequence, they will be allocated to either the experimental group (n = 20) or the control group (n = 20). Allocation concealment will be maintained using sealed opaque envelopes prepared by an individual not involved in the study. No stratification will be applied in this study.

This study will use a single-blind design. Participants will be blinded to their group assignment and will not be informed whether they are in the experimental or control group. However, the researcher, who will also serve as the intervention facilitator and outcome assessor, will not be blinded to group allocation.

Individual participant data will not be shared due to the sensitive nature of psychological information and the need to maintain complete confidentiality of participants. No further information is available.

Study protocol including complete information about objectives, design, sampling method, inclusion and exclusion criteria, intervention, assessment tools, and statistical analysis methods.

Access to the study protocol will begin from the date of final registration in IRCT and will continue for five years after the study concludes.

All researchers and investigators affiliated with academic and scientific institutions.

The study protocol is available only for scientific, research, and literature review purposes. Commercial use is prohibited. Citation of the source is required.

Applicants can contact the principal investigator via email.

The applicant submits the request via email. The request will be reviewed within a maximum of two weeks, and if approved, the protocol will be sent to the applicant.