THE EFFECTS OF GROUP COUNSELING PROGRAM BASED ON COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY TO ENHANCE EMOTION REGULATION OF AIRLINE GROUND STAFF

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a group counseling program based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in improving emotion regulation among airline ground staff, who often work under high levels of pressure and stress. Given the limited research on the application of CBT in this workplace context, the study examined both the theoretical suitability and the practical application of the program in a real-world setting. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-test measurements. Eighteen participants took part in the study and were divided into two groups: ten in the experimental group and eight in the control group, and the control group did not receive the intervention. The intervention consisted of 10 structured group sessions designed to help participants understand the connection between thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and bodily reactions. Participants learned skills such as self-regulation, cognitive restructuring, positive actions, relaxation techniques, and relapse prevention. Emotion regulation was assessed using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). Data were analyzed using paired-samples t-tests and independent-samples t-tests. The results showed that the experimental group had significantly higher emotion regulation scores post-intervention compared to pre-intervention (p < .05), with a large effect size. The experimental group also had significantly higher post-test scores than the control group (p < .05), with a large effect size. The findings indicate that the program is effective for enhancing emotion regulation in high-pressure work contexts.

Keywords: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Group Counseling, Emotion Regulation, Airline Ground Staff