Aggression in Juvenile Delinquents and Mental Rehabilitation Group Therapy Based on Acceptance and Commitment

The most common problem that delinquent children and juveniles deal with it every moment is the lack of sufficient control over their aggression. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the mental rehabilitation group therapy based on acceptance and commitment on decreasing aggression in juvenile delinquents. This study employed a quasi-experimental with pretest- posttest design and a 2-month follow up along with the experimental and the control group. To conduct this study, 30 cases of delinquent juveniles selected by Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire, and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The Experimental group received 8 sessions of Acceptance and commitment group therapy. Results were analyzed using ANCOVA showed that the experimental group compared with the control group, earned significant reduction in aggression and its aspects (physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger and hostility) and this difference maintained in follow-up phase too (P> 0/01). The results showed that acceptance and commitment group therapy can effectively reduce overall aggression and its dimension (physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger and hostility) and the results last in follow-up phase.