Cognitive Characteristics of Depressive Mood in College students and the Intervention Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Abstract
College students face psychological challenges such as academic stress, interpersonal difficulties, and uncertainty about future planning, which contribute to the increasing prevalence of depressive mood and affect academic performance and physical and mental health. This study examines the cognitive characteristics of depressive mood among college students and evaluates the intervention effect of cognitive behavioral therapy. A total of 120 students with depressive mood are randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group, with 60 participants in each group. The experimental group receives an eight-week CBT intervention, once per week for 90 minutes, including cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and problem-solving skills training. The control group receives regular mental health education. Changes are measured using the Beck Depression Inventory, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, and Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale before and after intervention and at follow-up. The results show that the BDI score in the experimental group decreases from 28.3 ± 6.2 at baseline to 12.5±4.8 after intervention. CBT effectively improves depressive mood and cognitive bias among college students.