Empowering Exceptional Children

Empowering Exceptional Children

The Effectiveness of Adlerian Play Therapy on Externalized Behavioral Problems and Social Skills of Specific Learning Disabilities Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Fatemeh Rezaie Almaneghadim
Parisa Pourmohammad
Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of medical sciences, Tabriz Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.
10.22034/ceciranj.2024.457047.1862
Abstract
The purpose of present study was to effectiveness of Adlerian play therapy in reducing externalizing behavioral problems and improving social skills in students with specific learning disorders. This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest with a control group design. The statistical population included all primary school students with specific learning disabilities in Ahar city in 1402, of which 30 were recruited by purposeful sampling method, and randomly assigned to an experimental (15 individuals) and a control group (15 individuals). The experimental group underwent Adlerian play therapy intervention for eight sessions. The control group did not receive any intervention. Assessments before and after the intervention were done with the Achenbach Child Behavior Problems Scale-Parent Form (1999) and Matson Social Skills Measurement Scale (1983) in both groups. The results of univariate covariance analysis indicated that Adlerian play therapy has reduced externalizing behavioral problems (P<0.001) and improved social skills (P<0.001) in students with specific learning disabilities. Considering the effectiveness of play therapy with the Adlerian approach in increasing life skills and reducing externalizing problems in children with specific learning disorders, this treatment approach can be used to reduce the issues of these students in rehabilitation centers and schools.
Keywords
Adlerian play therapy
Externalized behavior problems
Social skills
Specific learning disabilities

Subjects

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  • Receive Date 12 May 2024
  • Revise Date 16 July 2024
  • Accept Date 22 November 2024