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Effectiveness of Sandplay Therapy on Executive Functions and Visuospatial Memory in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
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Ehsan Golestani1    , Akbar Atadokht *1 , Niloofar Mikaeili1 , Nder Hajloo1 |
| 1- Psychology Department, Educational Sciences and Psychology School, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran |
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Abstract: (15 Views) |
Introduction: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that can adversely affect children and their families. Sandplay therapy may provide a complementary nonpharmacological intervention for children with ADHD.
Objective: This study investigated the effect of sandplay therapy on executive functions and visuospatial memory in children with ADHD.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest design with a one-month follow-up and a control group. The study population comprised 7- to 9-year-old students with ADHD in Baharestan County, Tehran Province, Iran, in 2023. Forty eligible children were selected purposively and randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. Following attrition, 36 boys (18 per group) completed the study. The study instruments included the SNAP-IV Rating Scale, Stroop Test, Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA-2), and Benton Visual Retention Test. The intervention group received 15 60-minute group sandplay therapy sessions. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance in SPSS version 24.
Results: The group-by-time interaction was significant for attention, response control, attentional accuracy, attentional speed, and visuospatial memory (all P<0.001). In the intervention group, mean attention scores increased from 72.50±15.64 at pretest to 97.00±18.90 at posttest and 96.22±18.45 at follow-up. Response-control scores increased from 83.88±16.33 to 105.61±16.76 and 104.77±16.23, respectively. Interference scores, representing attentional accuracy, decreased from 5.44±1.20 to 2.94±0.89 and 3.00±0.92. Visuospatial memory scores increased from 4.66±1.53 at pretest to 7.05±1.79 at posttest and 7.00±1.90 at follow-up.
Conclusion: Sandplay therapy was associated with improvements in executive-function measures and visuospatial memory in children with ADHD. It may be considered a complementary nonpharmacological intervention; however, larger studies with longer follow-up periods are needed.
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| Keywords: Executive Functions, Hyperactive Children, Sandplay Therapy, Visual-Spatial Memory |
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Full-Text [PDF 582 kb]
(11 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Psychology
Received: 2025/02/8 | Revised: 2026/11/15 | Accepted: 2025/09/27 | Published: 2026/06/30
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