The effectiveness of group play therapy with cognitive-behavioral approach on anxiety and self-esteem of deaf students

A hearing-impaired child often has communication problems and Communication problems can lead to social and behavioral problems therefore the purpose of the present study is Survey the effectiveness of group play therapy with cognitive-behavioral approach on anxiety and self-esteem of deaf students.

The present study was a quasi-experimental study with pretest, post-test design and control group. The statistical population of this study included all elementary deaf students in Alborz province in 1398-99. The number of students was 45, of which 30 students were selected by available sampling method and were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. Spence children anxiety scale and Cooper Smith self-esteem inventory were used to collect data.

The Findings show that the level of anxiety in deaf children in the experimental group and after performing play therapy with cognitive-behavioral approach has decreased compared to the control group (p <0.05). Also, the findings indicate that the self-esteem of deaf children in the experimental group compared to the control group in the post-test had a significant increase at the level of 0.05.

According to the findings of this study, group play therapy is an effective way to reduce anxiety and increase and strengthen the self-esteem of deaf students. It seems necessary to holding group play therapy sessions in special schools for the deaf.