The Effectiveness of Positive Thinking and Self-compassion Training on Cognitive Flexibility and Cognitive Failure in Girls With Primary Dysmenorrhea

Background: There is a relationship between the primary dysmenorrhea and psychological variables. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of positive thinking and self-compassion training on cognitive flexibility and cognitive failure in girls with primary dysmenorrhea. Materials & Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study carried out on multiple groups with pretest-posttest design. The sample research included 63 females with primary dysmenorrhea. They were recruited among students in Rasht City, Iran, district one education administration (first and second grade of high school), and were assigned within two experimental groups (under positive thinking and self-compassion training) and one control group (without training). Data collection was carried out by using a screening questionnaire of symptoms before premenstrual, Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and cognitive failure inventory of Broadbent and his colleagues (1982). Analysis of univariate covariance was used to analyze the data. Results: The findings showed that positive thinking and self-compassion training were effective in reducing the cognitive failure of women with primary dysmenorrhea (P<0.005), and selfcompassion training had more effect on reducing cognitive failure than positive thinking. Still, positive thinking and self-compassion did not affect cognitive flexibility. Conclusion: Psychological interventions, including positive thinking and self-compassion training, especially the latter, can improve cognition among girls with primary dysmenorrhea and improve their mental health.