The Effectiveness of Psychodrama Group Therapy on Assertiveness, Unconditional Acceptance, and the Spirit of Gratitude among Physically Disabled Individuals: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Improving the psychological states of physically disabled individuals can make their lives easier. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of psychodramas group therapy onassertiveness, self-acceptance, and the spirit of gratitude among physically disabled people in Isfahan.

The research method was quasi-experimental with experimental and control groups with a pretest-posttest design. The statistical population of the study consisted of all physically disabled people in Isfahan Disabled People’s Association in 2020. Of them, forty subjects were conveniently selected and randomly assigned in two groups (each group 20 persons). The experimental group received eight ninety-minute sessions of psychodrama group therapy while the control group recieved no intervention. To collect information, three questionnaires were used: self-acceptance scale of Gambrill and Ritchie, assertiveness scale of Chamberlain and Haga, and gratitude scale of McCullough. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics (means and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (multivariate analysis of covariance).

The results showed that psychotherapy group therapy had a significant effect on assertiveness (p<0.001, F=16.54), self-acceptance (p<0.001, F=210.62), and gratitude (p<0.001, F=33.44) of people with physical disabilities.

Psychodrama method was effective in improving assertiveness, unconditional acceptance, and gratitude in people with physical disabilities in Isfahan. Therefore, this method can be considered to improve the mentioned variables among the physically disabled people.