Effects of Schema Therapy for Children and Adolescents on the Externalizing Behaviors of the Adolescents Referred to the Counseling Centers in Ahvaz, Iran

Background: Internalizing and externalizing behaviors often emerge during adolescence. Early interventions could prevent severe or chronic mental health issues such as depression, suicidal tendencies, crime, and social harm, thereby potentially mitigating their adverse consequences. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of schema therapy for children and adolescents (ST-CA) on the externalizing behaviors of the adolescents referred to the counseling centers in Ahvaz, Iran. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The sample population included adolescents aged ۱۲ - ۱۴ years with behavioral, educational, and mood problems who were referred to the counseling centers in Ahvaz, Iran in ۲۰۲۰. In total, ۳۰ adolescents were selected via convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups of experimental and control (۱۵ per each). The experimental group received ۱۴ sessions of ST-CA (۱۲۰-minute weekly sessions). Data were collected using the child behavior checklist. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version ۲۶.۰. Results: In the experimental group, the mean scores of externalizing behaviors at the pretest and posttest were ۷۰.۵۲ ۶.۱۱ and ۵۸.۲۷ ۴.۸۰, respectively. The mean score of aggression in the experimental and control groups at the posttest was ۵۷.۶۰ ۳.۸۳ and ۶۴.۲۰ ۷.۴۱, respectively. The mean score of rule-breaking in the experimental and control groups at the posttest was ۵۵.۵۳ ۶.۱۰ and ۶۱.۰۷ ۷.۶۳, respectively. ST-CA could significantly alleviate the externalizing behaviors of the subjects, such as aggression and rule-breaking (P < ۰.۰۰۱). Conclusions: According to the results, ST-CA could effectively decrease externalizing behaviors. Therefore, this approach should be incorporated into the interventions designed for these cases. Our findings could lay the groundwork for further investigation in this regard.