Designing an Executive Functions Training Program and Evaluating its Effective on Improving of Theory of Mind in Children aged 6 to 8 Years with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to determine the effective of the training program of executive functions on improving levels of theory of mind in children with attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder. The research method was semi-experimental with post-test pre-test with control group. The study population included all 6- to 8-year-old children in Tabriz, of whom 30 were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental (15) and control (15) groups.Then the Theory of Mind Questionnaire (Hutchins, Perlock , Bonazinga , 2012) was completed by parents of both groups. After performing the pre-test, the experimental group was trained in the executive functions program. The program was designed by researchers and consisted of 24 sessions in which 4 skills (working memory, inhibition, flexibility and attention training) were taught, At this stage, the children in the control group did not receive any training. The post-test was performed again and the data obtained from the pre-test and post-test were analyzed using analysis of covariance.The data showed a significant difference between the control and experimental groups in the post-test of variable theory of mind scores after adjusting for the effect of pre-test of theory of mind(P<01). Based on this study, it can be suggested that improving the executive functions can increase the levels of theory of mind.

Keywords

• children 6 to 8 years old
• executive functions
• attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder
• theory of mind