درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Sandplay Therapy on enhancing perceptual reasoning and neuropsychological functioning in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A randomized controlled trial design was used, involving 30 children aged 6-12 years diagnosed with ASD. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=15) or the control group (n=15). The intervention group received eight 90-minute sessions of Sandplay Therapy over two months, while the control group received standard care. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) and NEPSY-II were used to measure perceptual reasoning and neuropsychological functioning, respectively, at baseline, post-intervention, and five-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA with repeated measurements and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-27. Descriptive statistics showed significant improvements in the intervention group for both perceptual reasoning (M=95.53, SD=7.48 at baseline to M=107.45, SD=8.21 post-intervention) and neuropsychological functioning (M=89.74, SD=6.95 at baseline to M=101.29, SD=7.56 post-intervention). Mixed-design ANOVA revealed significant main effects of time (F(2, 56)=30.15, p<.001, η²=0.52 for perceptual reasoning; F(2, 56)=32.75, p<.001, η²=0.54 for neuropsychological functioning) and group-by-time interactions (F(2, 56)=24.12, p<.001, η²=0.47 for perceptual reasoning; F(2, 56)=28.75, p<.001, η²=0.50 for neuropsychological functioning). Bonferroni post-hoc tests confirmed significant differences between baseline and post-intervention (p<.001) and baseline and follow-up (p<.001) for the intervention group. Sandplay Therapy significantly enhances perceptual reasoning and neuropsychological functioning in children with ASD. These improvements were sustained at follow-up, suggesting that Sandplay Therapy is an effective and sustainable intervention for this population.

This study aims to explore therapists' experiences with nonverbal communication techniques in psychotherapy for children with autism. This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach to gain in-depth insights into therapists' experiences. Sixteen licensed therapists with at least two years of experience working with children with autism were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, each lasting 60-90 minutes, and were transcribed verbatim for analysis. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes and patterns in the data. NVivo software was used to facilitate the organization and analysis of qualitative data, ensuring rigor through triangulation, member checking, and maintaining an audit trail. The analysis revealed four main themes: implementation of nonverbal techniques, perceived effectiveness, challenges and barriers, and strategies for overcoming barriers. Therapists reported using a variety of nonverbal techniques such as gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, body language, and physical proximity. These techniques were perceived as highly effective in enhancing understanding, emotional connection, behavioral improvements, and self-expression in children with autism. However, challenges such as therapist-child compatibility, resource limitations, environmental factors, and inconsistent parental involvement were noted. Strategies to overcome these challenges included continuous training, collaborative approaches, adaptive techniques, creating supportive environments, and leveraging technology. Nonverbal communication techniques are essential in psychotherapy for children with autism, significantly enhancing therapeutic outcomes. Despite challenges, these techniques, when tailored to individual needs and supported by continuous training and collaboration, can greatly benefit children with autism. Future research should focus on larger and more diverse samples, quantitative measures of effectiveness, and the role of cultural sensitivity in nonverbal communication strategies.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing (MI) in enhancing extracurricular involvement and emotional self-efficacy among individuals with learning disabilities. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 participants diagnosed with learning disabilities. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 15) receiving eight 90-minute sessions of MI or a control group (n = 15) receiving no intervention. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and at a five-month follow-up using the Student Engagement in Extracurricular Activities Scale (SEAS) and the Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-27. The intervention group showed significant improvements in extracurricular involvement (baseline mean = 25.67, SD = 3.12; post-intervention mean = 35.78, SD = 4.23; follow-up mean = 34.45, SD = 4.01) compared to the control group (baseline mean = 24.89, SD = 3.24; post-intervention mean = 25.12, SD = 3.30; follow-up mean = 25.05, SD = 3.28). Similarly, emotional self-efficacy scores significantly increased in the intervention group (baseline mean = 55.34, SD = 6.45; post-intervention mean = 68.23, SD = 7.01; follow-up mean = 66.45, SD = 6.78) compared to the control group (baseline mean = 54.78, SD = 6.51; post-intervention mean = 55.23, SD = 6.63; follow-up mean = 54.90, SD = 6.52). The ANOVA results indicated significant main effects of group and time, and significant interactions between time and group for both variables (p < .001). Motivational Interviewing significantly enhances extracurricular involvement and emotional self-efficacy among individuals with learning disabilities. These findings suggest that MI is an effective intervention for improving participation and emotional skills in this population.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of social skills training on enhancing self-determination and working memory in individuals with visual impairments. A randomized controlled trial design was used, involving 40 participants with visual impairments, randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The intervention group underwent ten 60-minute sessions of social skills training over four months, while the control group received no specific intervention. Self-determination was assessed using the Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report (SDI), and working memory was measured using the Working Memory Questionnaire (WMQ). Data were collected at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and a four-month follow-up. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were conducted using SPSS version 27. Participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements in self-determination from pre-intervention (M = 45.25, SD = 6.34) to post-intervention (M = 58.43, SD = 5.27) and at the four-month follow-up (M = 55.37, SD = 5.82). Similarly, working memory scores improved from pre-intervention (M = 39.18, SD = 7.24) to post-intervention (M = 51.22, SD = 6.05) and were maintained at follow-up (M = 48.76, SD = 6.50). The ANOVA results indicated significant main effects for self-determination (F(2, 76) = 41.52, p < .001, η² = 0.53) and working memory (F(2, 76) = 38.19, p < .001, η² = 0.50), as well as significant time x group interaction effects (self-determination: F(2, 76) = 32.35, p < .001, η² = 0.46; working memory: F(2, 76) = 31.88, p < .001, η² = 0.45). The findings demonstrate that social skills training is significantly effective in enhancing self-determination and working memory in individuals with visual impairments. These improvements were sustained over a four-month follow-up period, suggesting the potential of such interventions to positively impact cognitive and social functioning in this population.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between cognitive failures, sense of coherence, and academic resilience in children with speech impairments. The objective is to determine how cognitive and psychological factors predict resilience in this population. A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 376 children with speech impairments, aged 8 to 12 years. Participants were recruited from special education centers and mainstream schools. Academic resilience, cognitive failures, and sense of coherence were measured using the Academic Resilience Scale (ARS-30), Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), and Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29), respectively. Pearson correlation analysis examined the relationships between variables, and linear regression analysis determined the predictive value of cognitive failures and sense of coherence on academic resilience. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics indicated moderate levels of academic resilience (M = 78.45, SD = 11.32) among participants. Cognitive failures (M = 43.29, SD = 9.87) negatively correlated with academic resilience (r = -0.56, p < .001), while sense of coherence (M = 65.14, SD = 10.45) positively correlated (r = 0.63, p < .001). The regression model was significant (F(2, 373) = 173.27, p < .001), explaining 48% of the variance in academic resilience (R² = 0.48). Cognitive failures (B = -0.45, p < .001) and sense of coherence (B = 0.59, p < .001) were significant predictors of academic resilience. The findings underscore the significant roles of cognitive failures and sense of coherence in predicting academic resilience in children with speech impairments. Interventions targeting cognitive improvement and psychological support can enhance resilience, thereby promoting better academic outcomes. Future research should explore longitudinal trajectories and the effectiveness of specific interventions to further support these children.