A CBT-Based Serious Game on Social Anxiety: Narrative Design and Validation

Objective: The aim of this study was to design and validate a serious game-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for adolescent girls with social anxiety, using a structured scenario-writing protocol based on Hoffman's Social Self-Appraisal Therapy Model. Method: The research employed a multi-phase approach encompassing scenario preparation, expert evaluation, face validity testing, usability assessment, and pilot implementation. Content validity was evaluated by ten psychologists and counselors utilizing the Content Validity Index (CVI) and Content Validity Ratio (CVR) metrics. Face validity was assessed utilizing the Story World Absorption Scale (SWAS) with a cohort of ۱۰ adolescent participants. A pilot study including an additional cohort of ۱۰ adolescents evaluated alterations in social anxiety utilizing the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents (LSAS-CA). Usability and player experience were examined through the MEEGA+ instrument. Results: High content validity scores were achieved (CVI = .۹۳۷), and SWAS findings demonstrated moderate to high narrative involvement. Overall social anxiety decreased statistically significantly from the pretest to the posttest, according to the pilot study. The game was categorized as "good quality" based on MEEGA+ theta scores that varied from ۵۷.۵ to ۶۳.۵ across the usability and player experience subscales. Conclusion: The results revealed that the CBT-based serious game is both experientially effective and clinically promising. For adolescents with social anxiety, it provides a scalable and entertaining intervention tool, especially in situations where access to conventional therapy is restricted.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ، adolescents ، usability ، narrative engagement