Effect of Painting Therapy on Aggression in Educable Intellectually Disabled Students

Peyman Hashemian¹, Lida Jarahi^2*

¹Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Ibn-e-Sina Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
²Addiction Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

DOI: 10.4236/psych.2014.518208                

Abstract

Children with intellectual development disorder require to longer time for data processing. Delayed responses often exposed them to problematic condition like ignoring, stigma and physical or mental punishment. Intellectually disabled (ID) students also are in greater risk of psychological disorders such as anxiety and aggression based on problematic circumstances. This study was an experimental randomized controlled survey for assessment of painting therapy in reducing aggression in ID students. A total number of 20 educable ID children in elementary schools for student with special needs education in Bojnord City of Iran, were selected by using random sampling method in 2012. Participants were matched for age and educational level in intervention and control groups. According to Rotter and Goodenough test, after painting therapy, the mean scores of aggression in intervention group and control group were significantly different. The effect of painting therapy in male and female students was not statistically different. Painting therapy was effective method in reducing aggressive behaviors in ID students, as a complementary treatment in both male and female children. Painting therapy can be an effective method in similar behavioral problems in ID students.

Keywords

Painting Therapy, Aggression, Intellectual Disability, Children, Student

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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