Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Counseling

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Child-Centered and Family-Centered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on Executive Functions and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Children with Symptoms of Separation Anxiety

https://doi.org/10.61838/ijbmc.v13i8.675
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Separation Anxiety Disorder Executive Function Child Behavior Disorders Family Therapy

Authors

  • Kosar Moradi Department of Psychology, Kho.C., Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Iran.
  • Fatemeh Izadi
    dr.izadi@iau.ac.ir
    Department of Psychology, Kho.C., Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Iran.
In Press
Quantitative Study(ies)

Objective: This study compared the effectiveness of child-centered and family-centered cognitive behavioral therapy on executive functions and internalizing and externalizing problems in children with separation anxiety symptoms.

Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest control-group design. Participants were 45 children aged 7–12 years with moderate to high separation anxiety symptoms in Isfahan, Iran, in 2024. They were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to child-centered cognitive behavioral therapy, family-centered cognitive behavioral therapy, or control groups, with 15 children in each group. The experimental groups received eight structured intervention sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Gerard Executive Functions Questionnaire, Children’s Separation Anxiety Questionnaire, and Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance.

Findings: Child-centered cognitive behavioral therapy significantly affected the combined outcomes (Wilks’ λ = 0.415, F = 3.365, p = 0.001, η² = 0.564), executive functions (F = 5.715, p = 0.027, η² = 0.512), and internalizing/externalizing problems (F = 15.417, p = 0.001, η² = 0.322). Family-centered cognitive behavioral therapy also significantly affected the combined outcomes (Wilks’ λ = 0.845, F = 7.415, p = 0.001, η² = 0.398), executive functions (F = 3.220, p = 0.002, η² = 0.351), and internalizing/externalizing problems (F = 4.125, p = 0.001, η² = 0.504).

Conclusion: Both interventions improved executive functions and reduced behavioral problems, with family-centered therapy showing stronger effects on internalizing and externalizing problems.