The Effectiveness of Play Therapy Based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy on the Adjustment of Students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

AuthorKobra Raoufien
AuthorNahid Havasi Soomaren
AuthorMarjan Hosseinzadeh Taghvaeien
AuthorMaryam Bahrami Hidajien
AuthorArezoo Tarimoradien
OrcidKobra Raoufi [0009-0007-9733-6596]en
OrcidNahid Havasi Soomar [0000-0002-6482-4629]en
OrcidMarjan Hosseinzadeh Taghvaei [0000-0002-7866-5980]en
OrcidMaryam Bahrami Hidaji [0000-0001-5560-5718]en
OrcidArezoo Tarimoradi [0000-0003-4413-250X]en
Issued Date2026-07-31en
AbstractBackground: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) significantly impairs the social and emotional functioning of children. Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral play therapy (CBPT) and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) on the adjustment of students with ADHD. Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group. The population comprised elementary students with ADHD in Behbahan, Iran, during the 2023 - 2024 academic year. Forty-five students were selected via convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups of CBPT, REBT, and a control group (n = 15 each). The experimental groups received eight structured therapy sessions plus two parental training sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Emotional Adjustment Measure (EAM) and analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Findings indicated that both CBPT and REBT significantly increased overall adjustment scores and their components — including regulation of emotional/physiological arousal and reduction of hopelessness — compared to the control group (P < 0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between the efficacy of the two experimental interventions. Conclusions: Both CBPT and REBT are effective, viable clinical interventions for enhancing adjustment levels in students with ADHD and can be utilized as complementary treatments in educational and clinical settings.en
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.5812/zjrms-168734en
KeywordAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorderen
KeywordCognitive Behavioral Therapyen
KeywordPlay Therapyen
KeywordSocial Adjustmenten
KeywordRational Emotive Behavior Therapyen
PublisherBrieflandsen
TitleThe Effectiveness of Play Therapy Based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy on the Adjustment of Students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorderen
TypeResearch Articleen

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
zjrms-28-3-168734-publish-pdf.pdf
Size:
163.54 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Article/s PDF