Studying the effectiveness of positive thinking skills training on behavioral flexibility, aggression, and academic self-efficacy of aggressive fifth-grade male students
Studying the effectiveness of positive thinking skills training on behavioral flexibility, aggression, and academic self-efficacy of aggressive fifth-grade male students
Design
A controlled clinical trial with parallel groups, without blinding, randomized, on 40 patients. The rand function of Excel software will be used for randomization.
Settings and conduct
The statistical population of the present study will consist of all aggressive male fifth grade students in Ahvaz who are studying in the academic year 2025-2026. In the sample selection stage, the available sampling method will be used. After selecting the samples to a volume of 40 people based on the research entry and exit criteria, the participants will be randomly placed in two groups: "Positive Thinking Skills Training" (intervention group) and "Waiting List" (control group).
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Fifth grade male students, scoring one standard deviation above the mean in aggression, informed consent from the student's parents to participate in the study
Exclusion criteria: Unwillingness to participate in the study, participation in other psychotherapy sessions concurrently with the study
Intervention groups
Intervention group: All individuals who will receive the positive thinking skills training intervention.
Control group: All individuals who will not receive any intervention.
Studying the effectiveness of positive thinking skills training on behavioral flexibility, aggression, and academic self-efficacy of aggressive fifth-grade male students
Public title
Investigating the Effect of Teaching Positive Thinking Skills on Students' Psychological Variables
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Fifth grade male students
Obtaining a score one standard deviation above the mean in aggression
Informed consent of the student's parents to participate in the research
Exclusion criteria:
Unwillingness to participate in research,
Participating in other psychotherapy sessions at the same time as the research
Age
From 10 years old to 11 years old
Gender
Male
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
40
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
The statistical population of the present study will consist of all aggressive fifth-grade male students in Ahvaz city who are studying in the academic year 2025–2026. In this type of effectiveness study, a two-stage approach is usually used: in the sample selection stage, convenience sampling will be employed. After selecting a sample of 40 participants based on the study’s inclusion and exclusion criteria, the participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: “Positive Thinking Skills Training” (intervention group) and “Waitlist” (control group). Randomization will be carried out using variable block randomization with block sizes of 4 and 6 by an independent statistician who is not involved in the implementation process. The random allocation list will be generated using the RAND function in Excel and then placed in opaque, sealed, and numbered envelopes so that the researcher and participants will not be aware of the allocation sequence (allocation concealment). Opening the envelope and informing each participant of their assigned group will be done only when each participant enters the study. To ensure the equivalence of baseline variables (such as aggression level and age), their distribution in the two groups will be examined in the statistical analysis phase.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz Branch
1. Pre-test (before the start of the intervention) 2. Post-test (immediately after the end of the intervention period) 3. One-month follow-up after the intervention
Method of measurement
The variable will be measured using the Connor and Davidson (2003) Functional Flexibility Questionnaire.
2
Description
Aggression
Timepoint
1. Pre-test (before the start of the intervention) 2. Post-test (immediately after the end of the intervention period) 3. One-month follow-up after the intervention
Method of measurement
The variable will be measured using the Ahvaz Aggression Inventory by Zahedifar et al. (1990).
3
Description
Academic Self-Efficacy
Timepoint
1. Pre-test (before the start of the intervention) 2. Post-test (immediately after the end of the intervention period) 3. One-month follow-up after the intervention
Method of measurement
The variable will be measured using the academic self-efficacy questionnaire of Zajakova et al. (2005).
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group: Positive thinking skills. Duration of each session: 60 minutes; Total number of sessions: 8 sessions; Sequence of sessions: twice a week; Tools: guided discourse, mindfulness exercises, cognitive restructuring, positive visualization, constructive problem solving. Session content: Session 1: Introduction to positive thinking, intervention logic, pre-test. Session 2: Identification of negative thoughts and cognitive errors. Session 3: Cognitive restructuring; replacing negative thoughts with positive and realistic thoughts. Session 4: Mindfulness exercises to reduce emotional reactions. Session 5: Positive visualization to boost self-confidence and imagine success. Session 6: Coping with stress and failure, constructive problem solving training. Session 7: Training in assertiveness and positive communication skills. Session 8: Summary, review of skills, final suggestions, post-test and determining follow-up time.
Category
Treatment - Other
2
Description
Control group: The control group will not receive any intervention during the research, but to prevent factors that threaten the internal validity of the research, such as compensatory competition from the control group or demoralization, they will be assured that they will receive positive thinking skills training in the next session (after data collection).
Category
Treatment - Other
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Ahvaz Education Department Consulting Center
Full name of responsible person
Mohsen Izadi
Street address
next to Shohada High School, Fatemi Boulevard, clock Square