Impact of chess training in students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Introduction: One of the most common childhood disorders considered by psychologists and psychiatrists is Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, which leads to attention deficit, hyperactivity and impulsivity in affected people. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Chess training in students with ADHD. Method: The statistical community of the present quasi-experimental study was 76 students with ADHD in Khorramabad city in the academic year of 2019-2020. 32 students were selected by convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups of 16 controls and experiments based on age, sex and pre-test results. And the experimental group received chess training for 11 consecutive weeks and a weekly session of 60 to 90 minutes. Subjects were evaluated three times (pre-test, post-test, two-week follow-up) with Connors and Swanson questionnaires and data were analyzed by ANOVA and Bonferroni test and Spss 21 software. Results: The results of the study showed a direct and high correlation between the results obtained from both Swanson and Connors measuring instruments and the positive effect of chess training on students with ADHD. (P=0.001, F=20.17). Conclusions: Due to the positive effect of Chess training on the symptoms of ADHD, it is suggested that Chess training be used to reduce the symptoms of ADHD.

Keywords

• attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• psycho-educational interventions
• students