Research and development integrated group psychological counseling model to reduce intolerance of uncertainty for the western group of Rajabhat university students

Authors

  • Wichaya Maneechai, Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy Program in Guidance and Psychological Counseling, School of Educational Studies, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Nonthaburi Province
  • Nitipat Mekkhachorn, Ph.D. School of Educational Studies, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Nonthaburi Province
  • Wunlapa Sabaiying, Ph.D. School of Educational Studies, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Nonthaburi Province
  • Wilailak Langka, Ph.D. Faculty of Education, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64838/jmht.2025.275352

Keywords:

group counseling, intolerance of uncertainty, university students

Abstract

Objective: To develop and evaluate the effect of an integrated group counseling model on reducing intolerance of uncertainty (IU) among university students.

Methods: A research and development study was conducted at universities in western region of Thailand, divided into three phases: 1) Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of IU in university students; 2) Development of an integrated group psychological counseling model based on a literature review and CFA results, followed by content validity testing; and 3) A quasi-experimental study assessing the effect of the model among students with high IU, measuring pre-test, post-test, and a 4-week follow-up IU scores using an intolerance of uncertainty scale. The scores were compared within and between groups using the Friedman test and Mann-Whitney U test, respectively.

Results: The CFA with 420 participants identified two components of IU: prospective IU and inhibitory IU, consistent with empirical data. The integrated group psychological counseling model included eight activities, applying theories of person-centered therapy, behavioral counseling therapy, transactional analysis counseling therapy, and rational emotive behavior therapy. In a sample of 24 students, with 16 in the experimental group and eight in the control group, the results showed that the post-test IU score of the experimental group was significantly lower compared to both their pre-test score and the control group’s score.

Conclusion: An integrated group psychological counseling model can help university students manage and cope with uncertainty.

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Published

2025-06-25

How to Cite

1.
Maneechai W, Mekkhachorn N, Sabaiying W, Langka W. Research and development integrated group psychological counseling model to reduce intolerance of uncertainty for the western group of Rajabhat university students. J Ment Health Thai [internet]. 2025 Jun. 25 [cited 2026 Jan. 1];33(2):114-25. available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jmht/article/view/275352

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