فعالية برنامج قائم على نظرية العقل في خفض الإلكسيثميا لدى الأطفال ذوي اضطراب التوحد

Abstract EN

This study aims to identify the effectiveness of a program based on training on skills related to theory of mind (understanding feelings - understanding perspective taking - representational play) to reduce the level of alexithymia represented in (difficulty describing feelings - difficulty identifying feelings - externally oriented thinking) among children with autism disorder.

The study sample consisted of (12) children with autism from rehabilitation centers for people with special needs, who ages ranged between (6-14) years old, with IQ (55-80), and the degree of autism ranges from mild to moderate, and who have obtained high degrees on the alexithymia scale, , and they were divided into (6) individuals as an experimental group, and (6) as a control group, who are enrolled in rehabilitation centers for people with special needs (Delta Center - International Center - Zamzam Center - Early Intervention Center - Irada Center) in Mansoura and Senbellawein in Dakahlia Governorate.

The study instruments were represented in the social/economic level scale (prepared by Abdel Aziz Al-Sayed Al-Khass, 2013), Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale – 5th Edition, Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) which the researcher checking the spectrometric properties, Gilliam Scale for diagnosing autism (prepared by Mohammed El-Sayed Abdul Rahman, Mona Khalifa Ali Hassan), and the program based on the theory of mind skills (prepared by the researcher), and the researcher used the Mann-Whitney test for independent small groups and the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test for small related groups to analyzing the data.

The study concluded with the effectiveness of the program used in developing skills related to the theory of mind, thus reducing the level of alexithymia among the experimental group with autism.