The Impact of the Cool Kids Therapy Program on Cognitive Emotion Regulation in Children with Anxiety Disorders

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Cool Kids program in enhancing cognitive-emotional regulation in children diagnosed with anxiety disorders. Methodology: This study utilized a semi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test framework, incorporating a control group for comparison. The sampling was conducted using an available sampling method. The statistical population consisted of all female students diagnosed with anxiety disorders in the third, fourth, and fifth grades at primary schools in Bushehr during 2022-2021. academic year. The research sample consisted of 30 female students diagnosed with anxiety disorders, along with their mothers. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group. Data collection involved the use of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and the Garnefski Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for children. The experimental group underwent eight weekly therapy sessions, and the data obtained were analysed using covariance analysis. Findings: Data analysis revealed a significant difference in the scores of general anxiety symptoms in children, as well as in the overall scores of adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, between the experimental and control groups. This difference was observed when comparing the post-test results to the pre-test scores. Conclusion: Overall, this treatment program serves as an effective protocol for addressing childhood anxiety and enhancing cognitive emotion regulation. It can be utilized independently or as a complementary approach alongside other therapeutic methods in clinical settings.