The Effectiveness of Storytelling-Based Education on Externalizing Behaviors in Children with Behavioral Disorders
Keywords:
Externalizing Behaviors, Storytelling, Behavioral DisordersAbstract
Abstract
The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of storytelling-based education on both externalizing and internalizing behaviors in children with behavioral disorders.
This research is descriptive-correlational in terms of data collection, applied in purpose, and quantitative in method. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up using a control group.
The sample consisted of 30 mothers of elementary school boys in District 1 of the Tehran Department of Education whose children were diagnosed with behavioral disorders. Participants were selected through a stratified multistage sampling method.
The research instrument was a storytelling educational package consisting of eight 90-minute sessions. To measure behavioral and emotional problems, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) by Achenbach & Rescorla (2011) was used.
Data analysis using multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) revealed that storytelling-based education significantly improved both externalizing and internalizing behaviors in children with behavioral disorders.
These findings suggest that enhancing parental maturity and improving their behavioral management, especially during early childhood and critical developmental stages, can lead to better outcomes for children with learning and behavioral difficulties.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Fatemeh Karimi Esfahani, Fariborz Dortaj, Soghra Ebrahimi Ghavam, Ali Delavar, Hassan Asadzadeh (Author)
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