Abstract:

Background and Aim: The main feature in diagnosing autism spectrum disorder is the existence of challenging behavioural patterns, tendencies or behaviours. Challenging behaviours are behaviours that endanger or alienate the child from social relationships; Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of group play-therapy on challenging behaviours in children with autism. Analyses Methods: This study was applied in terms of purpose and quasi-experimental in terms of method with pre-test-post-test design with control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of all boys aged 7 to 14 years old with autism in Tehran medical centers in 1400. In this study, 30 autistic boys were selected as the sample size using the available sampling method based on the autism spectrum amplitude questionnaire and were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 8) and control (n = 8) groups. Revised Scale of Buddhist Challenging Behaviors, Simmons, Parker, and Louise (2000) were used to evaluate challenging behaviors. The experimental group received cognitive-behavioral therapy in 10 sessions of 45 minutes during one month, while the control group did not receive such intervention. In the end, both groups were evaluated again. Data were analysed using covariance analysis. Finding The results showed that the research hypothesis on the effectiveness of group play therapy on challenging behaviors of autistic children has been confirmed. Children with autism in the experimental group had significantly less challenging behaviors than children with autism in the post-test group (p <0.01). Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of play therapy program based on cognitive-behavioral approach can reduce the challenging behaviors of children with autism.

Keywords: