The Relation between Irrational Thinking and Post-Traumatic Stress among a Sample of Students at Al-Quds Open University’s Educational Region in Ramallah, and the Effectiveness of a Rational-Emotional Counseling Program on Reducing the Post-Traumatic Stress.

Abstract

This study consists of two components: descriptive and experimental. The

descriptive component aims to discover the relationship between irrational

thinking and post-traumatic stress on a sample group of 249 students (119

males and 130 females) in the Ramallah Educational Region of Al-Quds Open

University. Members of this group were selected randomly but represented

the existing social-status of students. The experimental component of the

study aimes to explore the effectiveness of a rational emotional counseling

program on reducing post-traumatic stress. The sample for the experimental

pilot study consisted of (60) students, half male and half female students,

who scored over the predetermined average in rational- irrational thinking

scale, and of post-traumatic stress scale, of the descriptive study control

group sample.

The counseling program was applied to the experimental pilot group in

twelve sessions, (75-90) minutes each, one session per week. Post tests for

the two groups were taken after the end of the program, and four-weeks later

for follow-up purpose.

Results showed a positive statistical correlation in the degree of rationalirrational

thinking and the post-traumatic stress scores measured in male

and female students. The study also showed significant statistical differences

at the level (α ≤ 0.05) between the experimental group and the control group,

in long-term measures of post-traumatic stress, indicating the effectiveness

of the counseling program. The study shows no significant mean difference

between males and females concerning the counseling program. It also

showed continued effectiveness of the counseling program, through followup,

which indicates positive and long-term effects on post-traumatic stress

conditions. Moreover, no evidence of significant statistical differences was

found between male and female participants of both groups, nor was there

any relationship between the training program and the social status on the

degree of post-traumatic stress.