Combining Physical Activity with a Behavioral Approach in the Treatment of Young Boys with Behavior Disorders

Abstract

Forty-three boys with various disruptive behavior disorders participated in group therapy based on a combination of physical activity and a behavioral approach for a period of I school year Modification of the participants' behavior within the group was obtained by various behavioral techniques. The Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS) was used to assess both participants and a no-treatment control group. The results showed that the clinical group improved significantlyfrom pre-to posttest on one psychological measure: the number of deviant signs (NDS). Significant differences between the two groups on the personal integration (PI) measure disappeared due to improvement of the clinical group. Analysis also showed significant interaction in the NDS, depicting significant pre-post reduction in the clinical group and a small increase in the control group.