Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy and Gestalt Play Therapy on Vandalistic Behaviors, Impulsivity, and Cognitive Flexibility in Aggressive Male Elementary Students

Objective: Aggression in the early years of life leads to the emergence of individual problems such as a poor self-concept and poor academic performance, as well as interpersonal issues such as rejection by peers in a child's life. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral play therapy and Gestalt play therapy on vandalistic behaviors, impulsivity, and cognitive flexibility in aggressive male elementary students.Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental research was conducted with a pre-test, post-test design with a control group and a follow-up period. The research population consisted of aggressive elementary students from District ۶ of Tehran, ۴۵ of whom were selected through purposive non-random sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (cognitive behavioral play therapy and Gestalt play therapy) and one control group. The Madrigal Vandalistic Behaviors Questionnaire (۲۰۰۶), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (۱۹۹۳), and Denz and Vandewall Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire (۱۹۷۷) were used. The first experimental group underwent ۸ sessions of ۶۰-minute cognitive behavioral play therapy, and the second experimental group underwent ۱۰ sessions of ۶۰-minute Gestalt play therapy. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and SPSS software version ۲۲.Findings: The results showed that both cognitive behavioral play therapy and Gestalt play therapy were effective in reducing vandalistic behaviors, impulsivity, and in enhancing cognitive flexibility (P<۰.۰۵). Furthermore, the findings indicated that Gestalt play therapy was more effective than cognitive behavioral play therapy (P<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: Cognitive behavioral play therapy and Gestalt play therapy were effective in improving aggression and Gestalt play therapy was more effective than cognitive behavioral play therapy. Therefore, these approaches can be utilized alongside medical treatments and care in therapeutic centers.Objective: Aggression in the early years of life leads to the emergence of individual problems such as a poor self-concept and poor academic performance, as well as interpersonal issues such as rejection by peers in a child's life. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral play therapy and Gestalt play therapy on vandalistic behaviors, impulsivity, and cognitive flexibility in aggressive male elementary students. Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental research was conducted with a pre-test, post-test design with a control group and a follow-up period. The research population consisted of aggressive elementary students from District ۶ of Tehran, ۴۵ of whom were selected through purposive non-random sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (cognitive behavioral play therapy and Gestalt play therapy) and one control group. The Madrigal Vandalistic Behaviors Questionnaire (۲۰۰۶), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (۱۹۹۳), and Denz and Vandewall Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire (۱۹۷۷) were used. The first experimental group underwent ۸ sessions of ۶۰-minute cognitive behavioral play therapy, and the second experimental group underwent ۱۰ sessions of ۶۰-minute Gestalt play therapy. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and SPSS software version ۲۲. Findings: The results showed that both cognitive behavioral play therapy and Gestalt play therapy were effective in reducing vandalistic behaviors, impulsivity, and in enhancing cognitive flexibility (P<۰.۰۵). Furthermore, the findings indicated that Gestalt play therapy was more effective than cognitive behavioral play therapy (P<۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Cognitive behavioral play therapy and Gestalt play therapy were effective in improving aggression and Gestalt play therapy was more effective than cognitive behavioral play therapy. Therefore, these approaches can be utilized alongside medical treatments and care in therapeutic centers.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cognitive Flexibility ، Impulsivity ، Vandalistic Behaviors