Development and Validation of an Executive Functions Package and Determination of Its Effectiveness on Communication Skills and Self-Care in Adolescents Aged 14–20 Years with Developmental Intellectual Disability
Keywords:
self-care, executive functions, intellectual disabilityAbstract
This study aimed to develop and validate a cognitive rehabilitation package targeting executive functions and to determine its effectiveness on communication skills and self-care in adolescents aged 14–20 years with developmental intellectual disability. The research employed a mixed-methods (qualitative–quantitative) design. In the qualitative phase, the executive functions cognitive rehabilitation intervention package was developed through a systematic review and concurrent meta-analysis of articles indexed in scientific databases published between 2014 and 2024, and its content was subsequently approved by experts in the field. In the quantitative phase, using a quasi-experimental method with a pretest–posttest control group design, 30 adolescents with intellectual disability enrolled in special education schools in Kashan County were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 participants per group). The intervention program was implemented in 12 one-hour sessions. Data in the qualitative phase were collected using library and documentary methods and interviews, and in the quantitative phase using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire by Hoffman and Kashdan (2010) and the National Adaptive Behavior Scale developed by Malekshahi, Kamkari, and Makvandi (2018). The validity of the developed package was examined using thematic analysis, and its effectiveness was analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS version 24. The findings indicated that the mean Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and Content Validity Index (CVI) of the developed package were 0.62 and 0.79, respectively, demonstrating adequate validity of the designed intervention. Statistical results showed significant improvements in self-care and communication skills at the posttest stage in the experimental group compared with the control group. Therefore, it can be concluded that the executive functions rehabilitation package is effective in improving self-care and communication skills in adolescents with developmental intellectual disability and can be utilized to enhance these competencies in this population.
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