Effectiveness of Reality Therapy Based on Choice Theory on Impulsive Behaviors and Psychological Distress of Adolescents with Inefficient Parent-Child Interaction

The present study was conducted to effectiveness of reality therapy based on choice theory on impulsive behaviors and psychological distress of adolescents with inefficient parent-child interaction. The current study was a semi-experimental application with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group and a two-month follow-up period. The statistical population was made up of adolescents with inefficient parent-child interaction who referred to the education counseling center of Isfahan city in the academic year of 2022-23. In order to carry out the present study, 37 adolescent with inefficient parent-child interaction were selected by the purposeful sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (19 adolescent in the experimental group and 18 adolescent in the control group). The adolescents in the experimental group received ten sessions of reality therapy based on choice theory during ten weeks. The applied questionnaires in this study included parent-child relationship questionnaire (Fine, Moreland, Schwebel, 1983), Impulsive Behaviors Questionnaire and Psychological Distress Questionnaire (Kessler et al, 2002). The data from the study were analyzed through mixed ANOVA method via SPSS23 statistical software. The results showed that reality therapy based on choice theory has had effect on impulsive behaviors and psychological distress of adolescents with inefficient parent-child interaction. According to the findings of the present study, reality therapy based on choice theory can be used as an efficient method to decrease impulsive behaviors and psychological distress of adolescents with inefficient parent-child interaction through employing techniques such focusing on the present time, avoiding excessive criticism and training accountability.