Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
M.A. in Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran
2
PhD Student in Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, SR. C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3
M.A. in General Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
4
Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
10.48311/ijmpp.2026.121605.82929
Abstract
Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Play Therapy (CBPT) on behavioral problems and gross motor skills in children with Intellectual Disability (ID).
Method and Materials: This study was designed as a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test, control group design. The population consisted of 7-10-year-old educable children with ID referring to special schools in Rasht, Iran, in the academic year 2025-2026. Using a multi-stage sampling method, 38 children exhibiting behavioral disorders were selected and randomly assigned to experimental (N=19) and control groups (N=19). A CBPT was administered for the experimental group according to the protocol of Knell for 12 sessions of 60 minutes, and the control group received no treatment. The instruments used were the Rutter Behavioral Problems Scale (RBPS) and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP), and the data obtained were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).
Findings: The results demonstrated that CBPT significantly decreases aggression and hyperactivity (F = 63.79), anxiety and depression (F = 37.36), social maladjustment (F = 55.36), antisocial behaviors (F = 50.31), attention deficit (F = 61.81), and increased gross motor skills (F = 77.78) in children with ID (P< 0.001).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that CBPT is an effective intervention for reducing behavioral problems and enhancing gross motor skills in children with ID. Therefore, this therapeutic approach may be considered a practical and beneficial strategy in educational and rehabilitation settings.
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