University of Tehran Journal of Applied Psychological Research 2251-8126 17 2 2026 07 01 Developing a Self-Determination Training (SDT) Package and Investigating Its Effectiveness on Psychological Symptoms (Depression, Anxiety and Stress) and Psychological Cohesion of Students: Three-Month Follow-Up Developing a Self-Determination Training (SDT) Package and Investigating Its Effectiveness on Psychological Symptoms (Depression, Anxiety and Stress) and Psychological Cohesion of Students: Three-Month Follow-Up 231 248 102970 10.22059/japr.2025.369278.644809 FA Farokhro Jalili Assistant Professor, Psychology Education and Counseling Department, Farhangian University, PO Box 889-14665, Tehran, Iran. 0000-0002-2033-9998 Journal Article 2023 12 07 The objective of the current investigation was to assemble a self-determination training package and assess its efficacy in enhancing the psychological coherence and alleviating symptoms of depression, anxiety, and tension in students. This research was a hybrid of exploratory designs, with the qualitative component being thematic analysis and the quantitative component being semi-experimental. The quantitative component included a control group and a three-month pre-test-post-test-follow-up plan. The desired package was compiled and its validity was confirmed after the themes were coded in the qualitative segment, which included scientific texts related to the theory of self-determination and the theoretical sampling method. In the quantitative part, the research community consisted of students studying at Farhangian University of Birjand, including Imam Sajjad and Shahid Bahonar campuses in the academic year of 2022-2023. The cohort consisted of 40 students (20 female and 20 male) who voluntarily registered and were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The control group did not receive any training, while the experimental group was instructed in self-determination skills for three months in twelve 90-minute sessions. The psychological symptoms scale (DASS-21) and the psychological coherence questionnaire (PCQ) were employed as research tools. NVIVO-10 software was used to analyze qualitative data and SPSS-26 was used to analyze quantitative data. The results showed that self-determination training has an effect on reducing depression (F=83.92), anxiety (F=149.81) and stress (F=72.24) and increasing psychological cohesion (F=223.50) in students. This effectiveness continued in the follow-up period (P<0.001). The findings indicate that it is imperative to implement self-determination training in order to enhance the mental health of students. The objective of the current investigation was to assemble a self-determination training package and assess its efficacy in enhancing the psychological coherence and alleviating symptoms of depression, anxiety, and tension in students. This research was a hybrid of exploratory designs, with the qualitative component being thematic analysis and the quantitative component being semi-experimental. The quantitative component included a control group and a three-month pre-test-post-test-follow-up plan. The desired package was compiled and its validity was confirmed after the themes were coded in the qualitative segment, which included scientific texts related to the theory of self-determination and the theoretical sampling method. In the quantitative part, the research community consisted of students studying at Farhangian University of Birjand, including Imam Sajjad and Shahid Bahonar campuses in the academic year of 2022-2023. The cohort consisted of 40 students (20 female and 20 male) who voluntarily registered and were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The control group did not receive any training, while the experimental group was instructed in self-determination skills for three months in twelve 90-minute sessions. The psychological symptoms scale (DASS-21) and the psychological coherence questionnaire (PCQ) were employed as research tools. NVIVO-10 software was used to analyze qualitative data and SPSS-26 was used to analyze quantitative data. The results showed that self-determination training has an effect on reducing depression (F=83.92), anxiety (F=149.81) and stress (F=72.24) and increasing psychological cohesion (F=223.50) in students. This effectiveness continued in the follow-up period (P<0.001). The findings indicate that it is imperative to implement self-determination training in order to enhance the mental health of students. https://japr.ut.ac.ir/article_102970_c6487db89955d917a7e20374ccde903c.pdf