The Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Cognitive Flexibility and Alexithymia in Aggressive Adolescents

Abstract

Objective: Intense emotions following physical, psychological, and cognitive changes in adolescents may lead to aggression. Aggressive adolescents, due to negative experiences in relationships, are at risk for multiple psychological problems. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy on cognitive flexibility and alexithymia in aggressive adolescents.

Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test, post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included all high school students (grades 1 and 2) in Shahdad County during the 2021-2022 academic year. Thirty students were selected using convenience sampling from these schools, having scored higher than 78 on the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Out of these, 30 students were randomly assigned to experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The research instruments included the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (1994), and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to analyze the data using SPSS-26 software.

Findings: The findings indicated that dialectical behavior therapy had a significant effect on cognitive flexibility and alexithymia in aggressive adolescents (p<0.005).

Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy on cognitive flexibility and alexithymia in aggressive adolescents, the implementation of intervention methods based on dialectical behavior therapy, particularly for emotional regulation and increasing cognitive flexibility, is recommended in schools and for high school students.