alireza heydarei

The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy based on mindfulness of body worth in obese women. The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group with a three-month follow-up period. The research population consisted of all women with a body mass index of 30 or more who were referred to the health-treatment centers of Sari in 2023, from which 45 people were selected by the available method and randomly placed in three groups of 15 people. The tool of this research included Crocker et al.'s self-esteem questionnaire (CSWS, 2003). The experimental groups received cognitive-behavioral therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions based on mind awareness during 8 sessions of 90 minutes once a week. The analysis method of this research was repeated measurement variance analysis. The results showed that both the intervention of cognitive behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy based on mindfulness significantly increased the value of the body compared to the control group (p<0.05) and this result was permanent until the follow-up stage. Also, the results showed that there is no significant difference between the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy based on mindfulness of body worth in obese women (p<0.05). The findings showed. From the above findings, it can be concluded that cognitive-behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy based on mindfulness play a key role in increasing the value of the body of obese women.

The early years of life are very important in the interventions and progress of autistic children, and it seems necessary to examine the role of parents in this field. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of early interventions of the Denver-parent model on improving the developmental profile of children with autism spectrum disorder.

The current research is applied with AB-type single-subject designs and the statistical population was autistic children in Mahshahr, 3 autistic children were selected by purposive sampling and parents, during 12 individual sessions and 1 hour per week, learned P-ESDM. The evaluation was done in 7 stages with the questionnaire of ASQ3 and descriptive statistics, visual analysis by calculating the percentage of non-overlapping and overlapping data, and comparing graphs were used to analyze the data.

The results of the analysis showed that the use of early interventions of the Denver-Parent model increased the scores in the subscales of the developmental profile, with 100% PND and 0% POD, and the increasing trend of scores in various areas of growth continued until the follow-up stage.

The implementation of early interventions of the Denver-parent model can lead to the improvement of developmental areas in autistic children and parents have a prominent role in this process, so it seems that introducing and Active participation of parents in the intervention process can be an important step to improve developmental delays in autistic children.

In addition to physical problems, patients with cancer suffer from psychologicaland social problems caused by the disease, which may affect their quality of life. This study aims toinvestigate the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on psychological well-being of patients withcancer in Ahvaz, Iran.

This study was conducted with a pre-test/post-test design. The study populationconsists of all patients with cancer in Ahvaz City in 2021, of whom 45 were randomly selected andrandomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. To collect data, the short form ofpsychological well-being scale developed by Ryff (2002) with 18 items was used. rated on a 6-pointLikert scale, from completely disagreeing (1 point) to completely agreeing (6 points). The interventiongroup underwent CBT, but no treatment was provided to the control group. Data were analysed in SPSSsoftware , version 22, using analysis of covariance.

The results showed that CBT had a significant effect on the psychological well-being of patients(P>0.05).

The CBT can be used to improve the psychological well-being of patients with cancer in Ahvazand consequently improve their mental health.

Cancer is one of the most important diseases of the century. It is the secondleading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. Diagnosis of cancer followed by long treatmentprocess is a stressful experience. This study aims to evaluate the effect of mindfulness-based stressreduction (MBSR) therapy on illness perception and rumination in patients with cancer.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pre-test, post-test, follow-updesign. The statistical population consists of all patients (males and females) with cancer in Ahvaz, Iranin 2021. Using a purposive sampling method, 40 were selected and divide into the experimental andcontrol groups (20 in each group). To collect data, the illness perception questionnaire of Moss-Morriset al. (2003) and the ruminative response scale of Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow (1991) were used.The experimental group underwent MBSR (8 sessions 60 minutes), while the control group received notreatments. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance.

The MBSR was effective in improving illness perception and reducing rumination in patients(P<0.001).

MBSR can be used to improve illness perception and reduce rumination in patients withcancer.

The responsibility that the entire education system is facing today is to formulate policies and policies for the development of society in the economic, social, emotional and personality fields of individuals. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between achievement goals and students' anxiety in statistics course, considering the mediating role of self-efficacy.

The current research was of the type of relational design, and more precisely, the correlation design was of the structural equation modeling type. Among the first, second, third, and fourth year students, the second and fourth year students were randomly selected, and 324 students completed the questionnaires of this research. Finally, after removing incomplete questionnaires, 312 questionnaires were analyzed. In order to collect data, achievement goals goals scale (1997), self-efficacy scale (Sherer and Adams, 1986) and Kravis et al.'s statistics anxiety scale (1985) were used as research tools in this research to collect data. In this research, SPSS19 software was used for data recording and preliminary analysis, and AMOS software was used for data analysis, and a significance level of p < 0.05 was considered for all hypotheses.

The results of the hypothesis analysis showed that the effect of the mediator variable in the regression model is significant and effective. As a result, the main hypothesis of the research that there is a relationship between professional ethics based on teacher's emotions and the mediating role of moral identity in teachers of Babak city is confirmed.

It can be concluded that students' anxiety can be predicted through achievement goals with the mediation of self-efficacy.

In the present study, the relationship between achievement goals and students' anxiety in statistics course was investigated with regard to the mediating role of conflict. The present research is of the type of relational design, and more precisely, the correlation design is of the structural equation modeling type.

Among the first, second, third, and fourth year students, the second and fourth year students were randomly selected, and the number 324 students completed the questionnaires of this research. Finally, after removing incomplete questionnaires, 312 questionnaires were analyzed. In this research, in order to collect data, Middleton and Migli (1997) achievement goals scale, Pintrich and DeGroot (1994) academic engagement scale, and Kravis et al.'s (1985) statistics anxiety scale were used as research tools. In the present study, SPSS19 software was used for data recording and preliminary analysis, and AMOS software was used for data analysis, and a significance level of p < 0.05 was considered for all hypotheses.

The fitted model shows the prediction of statistical anxiety. The numbers on the lines are standardized parameters. All paths are significant at the 0.001 level. Among the exogenous variables (mastery goals, performance goals and avoidance goals), mastery goals variable has the most direct effect on statistics anxiety.

The findings of this research indicated that progress goals have a significant direct effect on statistics anxiety, that the effect of mastery goals and performance goals on statistics anxiety was negative and the effect of avoidance goals on statistics anxiety was positive.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on lifestyle based on weight self-efficacy and body value in obese women.

The present research method was quasi-experimental with pre-test-post-test design and follow-up with a control group. The statistical population included all women with obesity in Sari in 1398. Using purposive sampling method, 30 of them were selected and placed in the experimental and control groups (15 people in each group). Lifestyle questionnaires based on Clark, Abrams, Niaura, Aton and Rossi (1991) and Mendelssohn, Mendelssohn and White (2001) body value questionnaires were used to collect data. The experimental group underwent cognitive-behavioral therapy based on Wright et al. (2017) protocol in 8 sessions of 90 minutes but the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance and SPSS.24 software.

The results showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy improves lifestyle self-efficacy based on weight self-efficacy (F = 10.08; P <0.001) and increases body value (F = 13.53; P <0.001) in women with Obesity was effective.

Based on the findings of this study, cognitive-behavioral therapy can be used to improve lifestyle based on weight self-efficacy and increase the value of the body of women with obesity and thus help reduce stress in them.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of health literacy and self-care of men with diabetes in predicting women's marital satisfaction.

The research method was descriptive-correlational. Considering the inclusion criteria of 330 men with diabetes and their wives in a simple random method from the Diabetes Association of Khuzestan Province in 2020 participated in this study. In order to collect data, the ENRICH Couple Scale (Fowers & Olson, 1989), Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (Montazeri et al., 2014) and Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (Toobert et al., 2000) were used. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and regression.

The results showed that marital satisfaction had a positive and significant correlation with health literacy (r=0.306; p= 0.001) and self- care (r=0.543; p=0.001). Regression results showed that only the variable of health literacy in men can play a predictive role for women's satisfaction (β=0.543; p=0.0001) and a total of 0.29 of marital satisfaction.

According to the results, the importance of paying attention to the promotion of self-care behaviors in men with diabetes in order to improve marital relationships is suggested.

Infidelity is a painful and complicated experience for couples. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of solution-based therapy on family functioning and couple burnout among women affected by spouse infidelity referred to counseling centers in Ahvaz.

The research method was experimental with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group. Participants included 30 women affected by spouse infidelity referred to counseling centers in Ahvaz in 2019, selected by purposive sampling method, and divided into two experimental and control groups of 15 people. Family functioning and couple burnout questionnaires were used to collect data. Before the intervention, a pre-test was held, and the experimental group received six 120-minute solution-based therapies, while the control group did not receive any intervention. The post-test was then performed, and after one month of post-test, the follow-up period was performed. Data were analyzedusing covariance analysis via SPSS software version 22.

The mean (SD) age of participants was 33.7 (6.3) in the experimental group and 31.4 (5.9) in the control group. In the experimental group, the mean (SD) score of family functioning increasedfrom 128.4 (17.7) in the pre-test to 188.5 (22.8) in the post-test, and 192.1 (23.4) in the follow-up (P<0.001). In the control group, it varied from 125.4 (15.3) in the pre-test to 124.9 (15.8) in the post-test, and 123.7 (15.5) in the follow-up, which was not significant. In the experimental group, the mean (SD) score of couple burnout decreased from 124.0 (14.6) in the pre-test to 61.9 (8.9) in the post-test and 58.9 (9.8) in the follow-up (P<0.001). In the control group, it varied from 123.5 (12.5) in the pre-test to 124.7 (12.3) in the post-test, and 123.8 (11.4) in the follow-up, which was not significant.

Solution-based therapy improved family functioning and reduced marital burnout among women affected by spouse infidelity referred to counseling centers in Ahvaz.

Recent research has shown the prevalence of the Covid-19 epidemic in this regard The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on reduction anxiety symptoms in patients with Generalized anxiety disorder in Dezful during the outbreak of Covid-19.

The research was a pilot study with a pretest-post-test-follow-up with control group. The statistical population of this study was the All patients with generalized anxiety disorder referring to Dezful counseling centers 30 people were selected through targeted sampling and randomly assigned to two groups of experimental and control group. In all three groups, patients' anxiety disorder was assessed through the questionnaire of General Anxiety (GAD-7). The first group received cognitive-behavioral therapy in 8 sessions 60 minutes, and the second group in 8 sessions 60 minutes acceptance and commitment therapy, but the third group did not receive training. Then, the anxiety test was re-evaluated in all three groups. Given that the assumptions of covariance analysis were not met data were analyzed using one-way variance analysis and SPSS software.

The findings of the study showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy could reduce the symptoms of anxiety in comparison with the control group (p <0.001) However, the difference between the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on reduce the symptoms of anxiety was not significant (p> 0.05).

It seems that both therapeutic approaches can be effective in treating the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

Diabetes as a chronic disease can have adverse effects on the marital relationships of people with the disease. Therefore, examining the role of protective factors in marital satisfaction of these people is of great importance. According to this, the aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of sexual satisfaction in the relationship between self-care and health literacy of men with diabetes and marital satisfaction of women.

The present study is descriptive-correlation. The statistical population of this study includes all couples with husbands with type 1 and 2 diabetes who lived in Ahvaz and were registered in the Diabetes Association of Khuzestan province until 2020, whose total population is 2000 people. In order to conduct the study, considering the inclusion criteria, 330 patients and their spouses were selected as a sample by simple random sampling and completed the questionnaires. In order to collecte data, a Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, Health Literacy for Iranian Adults, a Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire and the ENRICH Couple Scale were used.

The test results of the structural equation model showed that the index of fit are in good condition. Also, the results of path analysis showed that self-care of men with diabetes mediated by sexual satisfaction has a positive significant effect on marital satisfaction of women; Also, men's health literacy with the mediating role of sexual satisfaction has a positive effect on women's marital satisfaction (P<0.01).

The role of self-care and health literacy of men with diabetes in women's marital satisfaction is mediated by sexual satisfaction. According to the research results, holding educational programs to promote health literacy and self-care of people with diabetes in medical centers and diabetes associations is recommended.

Infidelity is a painful and complicated experience for a betrayed spouse. The purpose of this study was to the comparison of the effectiveness of emotionally focused couple therapy and solution- focused therapy on sexual satisfaction in women affected by marital infidelity referred to consulting centers in Ahvaz city.

This experimental study was conducted with a pretest, posttest and follow up design with control group. The statistical population included all women affected by marital infidelity referred to consulting centers in Ahvaz city in 2019, that 45 women were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (each group of 15 women). To collect data questionnaires such as Attitudes to Crossover Relationships of Vitley (2006) and Sexual Satisfaction of Hadson et al (1981) were used. The experimental groups underwent emotionally focused couple therapy (10 sessions 90 minutes) and solution- focused therapy (6 sessions 120 minutes), but the control group received no training. Data were analysed using covariance analysis.

The results showed that both emotionally focused couple therapy and solution- focused therapy were effective to increasing sexual satisfaction in women affected by marital infidelity (p<0/01) and the results showed that there was no significant difference between the effectiveness of emotionally focused couple therapy and solution- focused therapy on increasing sexual satisfaction in women affected by marital infidelity (p>0/05) And these results did not continue until the follow up stage.

Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that emotionally focused couple therapy and solution- focused therapy are used to increasing sexual satisfaction in women.

Chronic diseases such as diabetes can lead to marital incompatibility and affect family health. The purpose of this study was to develop a structural model of womenchr('39')s marital satisfaction based on positive attitudes toward extramarital relationships and health literacy in their diabetic spouses through sexual satisfaction.

The present study is descriptive-correlation. The statistical population of this study includes all couples with husbands with type 1 and 2 diabetes who lived in Ahvaz and were registered in the Diabetes Association of Khuzestan province until 2020, whose total population is 2000 people. According to the inclusion criteria, 330 patients and their spouses were selected as a sample based on the Krejcie & Morgan table by simple random sampling using a random number table. Finally, 285 couples were willing to cooperate and completed the questionnaires. In order to collected data demographic questionnaire, the “ENRICH Couple Scale”, the “Attitudes Toward Infidelity Scale”, the “Health Literacy for Iranian Adults”, and the “Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire”, were used. The validity and reliability of the instruments have been confirmed in previous studies. Data analysis was performed by using SPSS.24 and Amos.23. 

The proposed model had a good fit. There is a significant relationship between men positive attitudes toward extramarital relationships with women marital satisfaction (P<0.01), between men positive attitudes toward extramarital relationships with women sexual satisfaction (P<0.01), between men health literacy with women sexual satisfaction (P<0.01), between women sexual satisfaction with women marital satisfaction (P<0.01), but there was significant relationship between health literacy with marital satisfaction (P>0.05). Also indirect pathways are significant positive attitudes toward extramarital relationships with marital satisfaction with mediating role of sexual satisfaction (P<0.01), health Literacy with marital satisfaction with mediating role of sexual satisfaction (P<0.01). 

The proposed model had a good fit and is an important step in understanding the factors related to marital satisfaction of women with spouses with diabetes. It is suggested that in the treatment of marital problems of patients with diabetes, the role of positive attitude variables in extramarital relationships and health literacy mediated by sexual satisfaction in predicting marital satisfaction should be considered.

Research has shown that early detection and intervention of generalized anxiety disorder can help to minimize symptoms and slow its progression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and neurofeedback therapy on reducing anxiety symptoms in patients with generalized anxiety disorder in Dezful.

The research method was experimental with pre-test-post-test design with control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of all patients with generalized anxiety disorder referred to counseling centers in Dezful. Thirty people from the community were selected by purposive sampling and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. In all three groups, patients' anxiety disorders were assessed through the 7-item General Anxiety Scale (GAD-7), both experimental groups were treated for 8 sessions and each session for one hour. Due to non-observance of the assumptions of analysis of covariance, the data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and SPSS software.

The results showed that cognitive-behavioral and neurofeedback therapies were able to reduce the symptoms of generalized anxiety compared to the control group (p <0.01) and also the effect of neurofeedback therapy on reducing the symptoms of generalized anxiety was greater (p <0.01).

According to the obtained results, cognitive-behavioral and neurofeedback therapies can be used to reduce the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

Substance dependence is acknowledged as one of the major social and health issues inflicting severe and profound physical and psychological harm, as well as numerous social damages, such as divorce and unemployment. The present study aimed to make a comparison between the effectiveness of Matrix training and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) treatments on positive and negative affects and craving in substance abusers who referred to Ahwaz addiction treatment centers within 2018-2019.

The present semi-experimental study was conducted using a pre-test post-test control group design with a two-month follow-up. The study population consisted of all substance abusers who referred to Ahwaz addiction treatment centers within 2018-2019. A total of 60 volunteers were selected by voluntary sampling method and randomly assigned to Matrix training (n=20), tDCS (n=20), and control (n=20) groups. Data were collected by The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and Desire For Drug Questionnaire and were analyzed in SPSS software (version 22).

Based on the obtained results, Matrix, tDCS, and control groups were significantly different in terms of positive and negative affects and craving (P<0.001). Moreover, it was found that Matrix training and tDCS were effective on positive and negative affects and cravings (P<0.001); nonetheless, no significant difference was observed between the matrix and tDCS groups (P>0.05).

Generally speaking,  it can be concluded that Matrix training and tDCS methods are equally effective in emotions and craving.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of family functioning in the relationship between life style and spiritual intelligence with psychological well-being in mothers of deaf children. This was a correlational study of path analysis type. Population consisted of all the mothers of deaf children of Boujnord City in year 2019 from among whom 89 individuals were selected through purposive sampling method. Research tools included Miller & Smith's Life Style Questionnaire (2002), AbdallahZade et al's Spiritual Intelligence Questionnaire (2008), Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire (2002) and Mc Master's Family Functioning Questionnaire (1983). The proposed model was evaluated using a path analysis method. The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between spiritual intelligence and psychological well-being; between family functioning and psychological well-being; between life style and family functioning; between spiritual intelligence and family functioning (p<0/01), but there was no significant relationship between life style and psychological well-being (p>0/05). Also, indirect pathways of life style and psychological well-being with mediating role of family functioning, and spiritual intelligence with psychological well-being with mediating role of family functioning were significant (p<0/01). The proposed model had an acceptable fitness to the result and is considered as an important step in recognizing the effective factors in the psychological well-being of mothers of hard-of-hearing children.

Substance dependence indicates the bodychr('39')s physiological response to the constant use of addictive substances; self-control and craving are essential in the success or failure of treatment in substance-dependent individuals. Craving is among the persistent factors in addictive behaviors. Craving is a tendency that, if not fulfilled, can lead to biopsychological conditions in substance abusers, including aggression, anxiety, depression, and vulnerability. Accordingly, craving seems to be controlled by automatic or non-automatic cognitive-emotional processes. Researchers have suggested different methods to improve cravings and self-control that affect the brain in different manners. One of such approaches is Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation (tDCS). Few studies have presented the effectiveness of tDCS treatment on self-control and recurrence prevention. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tDCS treatment on craving and self-control in individuals with substance dependence.

This was an applied and quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest and a control group design. The statistical population of the study consisted of all individuals with substance dependence referring to Golestan Hospital in Ahwaz City, Iran, in 2019 (N=342). The study participants were selected by purposive sampling method. The sample size selection criteria were 0.225, alpha 0.05, and 0.80 in the two groups; the minimum number of samples to achieve the desired power value; 20 per group, and 40 in total. Thus, 80 subjects with substance abuse; those who obtained lower scores than average in the Self-Control Scale (SCS; Tangney et al., 2004) and scores above average in the Desires for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ; Franken et al., 2002) were included in the pretest phase. Individuals aged between 20 and 42 years, with no concomitant drug use for any other disorder, were selected as the study sample. Subsequently, they were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (n=20/group). The study exclusion criterion included not attending >2 of the therapy sessions. Then, the experimental group received tDCS; however, the controls received no intervention. After the tDCS sessions, the experimental and control groups completed the posttest phase. Additionally, tDCS sessions were performed on the control group after the observation of training sessions data and running posttest on both study groups. The DDQ and SCS were used to collect the required data. The obtained data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) at a significant level of 0.05 in SPSS.

MANCOVA data suggested that the tDCS and control groups were significantly different in at least one of the explored dependent variables (p<0.001, F=23.17). The results of MANCOVA revealed that tDCS treatment was effective in improving craving (p=0.002, F=11.67) and self-control (p=0.004, F=52.13) in the investigated substance dependents. The eta-squares of cravings and self-control were 0.382 and 0.427, respectively, indicating a relatively high effect of tDCS treatment on cravings and self-control in the studied subjects.

Based on the present study findings, tDCS treatment was effective in improving craving and self-control in substance abusers; thus, this method could be used to improve the health status of substance abusers.

Considering the key role of executive functions in children's academic and social success, and the cognitive impairments of children with intellectual disabilities, as well as relying on the efficacy of early intervention as one of the accepted principles in the process of education and treatment of children with special needs, The purpose of this study was to develop a early intervention program based on executive functions and to evaluate its effectiveness on the neuropsychological performance improvement of children with intellectual disabilities

The method of this research is experimental with pre-test, post-test and follow-up with the control group. The statistical population of this study is all children with a low educational level of 50 to 70 students who are studying in the pre-school period of exceptional schools in Tehran. Among them, 20 subjects were selected by non-random sampling method and divided into two groups (n = 12) and control (n = 8). The data of this study, which were collected using the neuropsychological Conner's questionnaire test, were using SPSS software for analyzed  MANCOVER repeated measures test.

The findings of the present study indicate that a early intervention program based on executive functions has led to a significant increase in neurological cognitive abilities, motor sensory function, memory and learning, and executive functions among the children with intellectual disabilities. However, the program did not lead to a significant increase in language performance among these children.

According to the findings, it is suggested that executive functions should be considered as a pillar and axis of early interventions, given the great importance they play in the cognitive and social functioning of children with intellectual disabilities.

Abstract
Executive functions can be considered as the umbrella of cognitive and social abilities. Accordingly, executive functions such as behavioral inhibition, flexibility, information organization, targeting, and self-monitoring can provide educational and social achievement for children, however, research findings suggest that executive functions in mentally retarded children have limitations and fundamental problems . Accordingly the purpose of this study is to develop a early intervention program based on executive functions and its effectiveness on improving social developmentof Children with intellectual disabilities.
The method of this research is experimental with pre-test, post-test and follow-up with the control group. The statistical population of this study is all children with a low educational level of 50 to 70 students who are studying in the pre-school period of exceptional schools in Tehran. Among them, 20 subjects were selected by non-random sampling method and divided into two groups (n = 12) and control group (n = 8). The data of this study, which were collected using the New Version of Tehran-Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale and Social Growth Scale for Social Development (Gersham & Eliot), were using SPSS software for analyzed  MANCOVER repeated measures test.
The findings of the study indicate that early intervention program based on executive functions has led to a significant improvement
(p= 0.001) in social skills among performance of the Children with intellectual disabilities .
According to the findings, it is suggested that executive functions should be considered as a pillar and axis of early interventions, given the great importance they play in the cognitive and social functioning of children with intellectual disabilities.