Comparison of the Effectiveness of Painting Therapy, Clay Therapy and a Combined Method on Resiliency in Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

The lack of behavioral inhibition in children with attention deficit/ hyperactivity ADHD disorder disrupts the way they respond. These children are not able to wait; Because of this, resiliency in them is of importance. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the painting therapy, clay therapy and combined method (The combination of painting therapy and clay therapy) on resiliency in children with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. 

This study used a single-subject ABA design. The statistical population consisted of all 8 - 11 year old children with ADHD reffered to medical centers of Tehran in the academic year 2020-2021. Among them, 6 children (three boys and three girls) were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and by purposive sampling and were randomly placed in 3 two - person groups. Interventions of the painting therapy, clay therapy and combined methods for each child, according to the child-centered play therapy program with Landerth and Bratton Approach (2006) were conducted in 2 one – hour – weekly sessions which lasted for 8 weeks (16 sessions). The research instrument included Social-Emotional Assets and Resilience Scale (SEARS; Merrell, 2008). Data were analysed at both within-condition and between-condition levels based on three indicators of level, trend and stability.

The results showed that interventions were effective in two groups of painting therapy and combined method (The combination of painting therapy and clay therapy). The most effective method in improving resiliency was the combined method (The combination of painting therapy and clay therapy) (P< 0.05). The recovery percentage of clay therapy was lower than other interventions and had no significant effect on the resiliency in children with ADHD (P> 0.05).

Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the painting therapy and combined method (The combination of painting therapy and clay therapy) can increase the resiliency of children with ADHD. Necessary explanations for the results are discussed in the article.