The effect of family counseling program applied to university students with future anxiety on anxiety and conscious awareness levels

This research has conducted as a pre-test, post-test randomized controlled study to determine the effects of a cognitive behavioral model-based family counseling program on anxiety and mindfulness levels in university students experiencing anxiety about the future. Study data were obtained from 20 students including 10 of intervention and 10 of control group. Data were collected with individual characteristics form, Future Anxiety Scale in University Students, and The Validity and Reliability of the Adolescents and Adult Mindfulness Scale's Turkish Version. Intervention group was applied a cognitive behavioral model-based family counseling program which lasts 50-60 minutes during 8 week (6 weeks with only the students and the last two weeks included family members' participation) once a week online. Control group was not applied any intervention. The tests were applied to both groups once before and after the application. When intervention and control groups were compared, it was found that there was a significant difference between the Future Anxiety Scale in University Students pre-test and post-test scores; it was determined that there was no difference between the pre- test and pos- test scores of the Adolescents and Adult Mindfulness Scale's; however, a significant difference was identified in the "Non-Reactive" sub- dimension of the scale in the intervention group between the pre- test and post- test scores. As a result: it can be stated that the cognitive- behavioral model- based family counseling program applied to university students has reduced their levels of future anxiety, while its impact on their levels of mindful awareness has remained limited.