Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Play Therapy on Behavioral Adjustment and Problem-Solving Skills in Students with Dyslexia

Abstract

Background: Dyslexia, a specific learning disorder characterized by reading difficulties, can significantly impact students’ academic progress and social-emotional well-being. This study investigated the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral play therapy (CBPT) on behavioral adjustment and problem-solving skills in students with dyslexia.Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up with a control group was employed. The population consisted of all elementary school students in Tehran, Iran, who were diagnosed with dyslexia at learning disability centers in the 2022-2023 academic year. Using a convenience sampling method, 30 participants were selected from the target population and randomly assigned to either the experimental (CBPT) or control group. The Adaptive Behavior Scale (ABS) and the Problem-Solving Style Questionnaire (PSSQ) were used to assess the participants. The experimental group received eight 60-minute CBPT sessions based on cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, while the control group received no intervention during this period. Repeated measures ANOVA, along with Bonferroni post-hoc tests, were employed to analyze the data using SPSS version 27.0.Results: At pre-test, both groups exhibited similar levels of behavioral adjustment (CBPT group: 229.06±22.37; control group: 229.26±25.10) and problem-solving skills (CBPT group: 7.33±1.87; control group: 7.66±2.09). Post-intervention, the CBPT group demonstrated a significant improvement in behavioral adjustment (209.86±20.20) compared with the control group (228.40±24.12). In contrast, the control group showed no significant change in behavioral adjustment. Regarding problem-solving skills, the CBPT group exhibited a notable increase (10.20±2.36) after the intervention, while the control group demonstrated a slight improvement (7.80±2.30). The results revealed that CBPT significantly improved behavioral adjustment and problemsolving skills in the post-test phase (P<0.001). Follow-up results indicated the sustained effectiveness of the CBPT intervention.Conclusions: CBPT emerged as an effective intervention for enhancing behavioral adjustment and problem-solving skills in students with dyslexia. The findings highlighted the potential of CBPT to address the social-emotional and academic challenges faced by this population.

Keywords

• cognitive behavioral therapy
• dyslexia
• problem solving
• students