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Effects of the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Stress Management on Executive Function Components

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 February 2017

Ana Santos-Ruiz ,
Humbelina Robles-Ortega ,
Miguel Pérez-García  and
María Isabel Peralta-Ramírez
Ana Santos-Ruiz
Affiliation:
Universidad de Granada (Spain)
Humbelina Robles-Ortega*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Granada (Spain)
Miguel Pérez-García
Affiliation:
Universidad de Granada (Spain)
María Isabel Peralta-Ramírez
Affiliation:
Universidad de Granada (Spain)
*
†Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Humbelina Robles-Ortega. Universidad de Granada. Granada (Spain). E-mail: hrobles@ugr.es
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Abstract

This study aims to determine whether it is possible to modify executive function in stressed individuals by means of cognitive-behavioral therapy for stress management. Thirty-one people with high levels of perceived stress were recruited into the study (treatment group = 18; wait-list group = 13). The treatment group received 14 weeks of stress management program. Psychological and executive function variables were evaluated in both groups pre and post-intervention. The treatment group showed improved psychological variables of perceived stress (t = 5.492; p = .001), vulnerability to stress (t = 4.061; p = .001) and superstitious thinking (t = 2.961; p = .009). Likewise, the results showed statistically significant differences in personality variables related to executive function, positive urgency (t = 3.585; p = .002) and sensitivity to reward (t = –2.201; p = .042), which improved after the therapy. These variables showed a moderate to high effect size (oscillates between 1.30 for perceived stress and .566 for sensitivity to reward). The cognitive-behavioral therapy for stress management may be an appropriate strategy for improving personality construct components related to executive function, however effects of the therapy are not showed on performance on the tests of executive function applied, as presented studies previous.

Keywords

cognitive-behavioral therapycognitive flexibilityexecutive functionstress
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 20 , 2017 , E11
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2017 

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Footnotes

*

Ana Santos-Ruiz is now at Universidad de Alicante, Spain.

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