The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on the Executive Functions of Students with Sluggish Cognitive Tempo

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran.

2 Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in enhancing the executive functions of students with sluggish cognitive tempo. The study was conducted using a semi-experimental method that involved a pre-test and post-test design and a control group. The study population consisted of all male students in the first year of secondary school in Tabriz in 2022-2023 who had a sluggish cognitive tempo. Thirty students with sluggish cognitive tempo were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups from this population, as determined by purposeful sampling. The experimental group received mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program in 12 sessions. The data was collected using the sluggish cognitive tempo Scale (SCTS) and executive skills questionnaire (ESQ-R) .The present research data were analyzed using multi-variance covariance analysis. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS-25 software. The results showed that the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy demonstrated a significant effect on the three components of planning, emotion regulation, and time management (p<0.05). However, the component of organization and behavior regulation did not experience any substantial impact. Therefore, it is recommended that clinicians and educators implement mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to enhance the executive functions of students with symptoms of sluggish cognitive tempo. This is due to the fact that the intervention had a positive effect on planning, emotional regulation, and time management.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Applied Psychological Research

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 01 July 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 February 2023
  • Revise Date: 03 June 2023
  • Accept Date: 18 June 2023
  • First Publish Date: 06 February 2024
  • Publish Date: 01 July 2025

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