The Effect of Adlerian Play Therapy on the Alexithymia and Social Isolation of Deaf Students

Abstract

The present study aimed to the effect of Adlerian play therapy (AdPT) on the alexithymia and social isolation of deaf students. This study was a quasi-randomized controlled trial design. Twenty-four deaf students aged 15–18 years were randomly selected from Ferdous School for the Deaf in Isfahan, Iran. They were randomly replaced to experimental (n = 12) and control (n = 12) groups. The experimental group participated in 60–75 min AdPT group sessions twice a week over 4 weeks (eight sessions). Both groups completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale–20 and Social Isolation Measure before and after AdPT intervention. The results revealed that the intervention significantly and positively influenced the alexithymia and social isolation of deaf students (p <.001). AdPT improved the alexithymia and social isolation of deaf students. Despite the positive findings of the current research, it is important to continue research with other exceptional students using this treatment. © 2022 Association for Play Therapy