Effectiveness of Teaching Choice Theory on the Difficulty In Emotion Regulation, Basic Needs Satisfaction and Bereavement Symptoms In Bereaved Adolescent Boys

Bereaved adolescents usually experience a wide range of emotions and behaviors.Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of teaching choice theory on the difficulty in emotion regulation, basic needs satisfaction and bereavement symptoms in bereaved adolescent boys.

This semi-experimental research was pre-test, post-test and two-month follow-up with a control group.The statistical population of the research included all bereaved adolescent boys covered by one of the charities in Tehran in2021, among them,30people were selected using available methods, and were randomly replaced in two equal groups. In the experimental group, the choice theory program was implemented in8weekly sessions(each session for 1 hour), but the control group did not receive this intervention. To collect data from the demographic information checklist, Difficulties in emotion regulation scale(Gratz&Romer,2004), Needs deficiency inventory(Salari&Sahebi,2013),and Traumatic grief inventory for children(Dyregrov&et al,2001)was used. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and, ben-feroni post hoc test with repeated measurements using SPSS-26 statistical software.

The results showed that teaching choice theory reduced the difficulty of emotional regulation, symptoms of grief, satisfying basic needs and reducing the components of the need for survival, love and belonging, freedom, power and fun in the experimental group(P<0.05), And this effect has been stable and signiticant in the follow-up phase.

According to the results of this study, it is possible to use choice theory training in medical centers to reduce the symptoms of bereavement, the difficulty of emotional regulation and improve the satisfaction of the basic needs of bereaved teenagers.