KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Journal of Adolescent and Youth Psychological Studies (JAYPS) 2981-2526 In Press 2027 03 10 Effectiveness of Drama Therapy on Suicidal Ideation, Self-Control, and Depression in Adolescents with Suicidal Ideation Effectiveness of Drama Therapy on Suicidal Ideation, Self-Control, and Depression in Adolescents with Suicidal Ideation 1 14 EN Journal Article 2026 05 27 <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><strong>Objective:</strong> The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of drama therapy in reducing suicidal ideation and depression and improving self-control among adolescents with suicidal ideation.</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials: </strong>The present study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and was conducted among 30 adolescents (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group) in Ahvaz. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and subsequently randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group received an eight-session drama therapy protocol. The research instruments included the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and the Tangney Self-Control Scale. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).</p> <p><strong>Findings:</strong> The results indicated that, after controlling for pretest scores, drama therapy significantly reduced suicidal ideation (effect size = 0.48) and depression (effect size = 0.60) and increased self-control (effect size = 0.71) in the experimental group compared with the control group (p &lt; .001).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The findings support the effectiveness of drama therapy through mechanisms such as “aesthetic distancing” and “role reversal,” which allow adolescents to represent their emotions dramatically, restructure negative cognitive patterns, and improve their capacity for impulse inhibition. By reducing hopelessness and enhancing self-efficacy, this experiential intervention may serve as an effective approach for preventing self-harming behaviors among adolescents. Nevertheless, longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are recommended.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> https://www.journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/jayps/article/download/5972/11657