Can Psychodrama Improve Aggressive Behavior and Social Adaptation in Adolescent Boys?

Can Psychodrama Improve Aggressive Behavior and Social Adjustment? A Randomized Controlled Trial Among Male Adolescents in a Tropical Developing Region

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of a 10-session psychodrama intervention on reducing aggressive behavior and improving social adjustment among male adolescents with high aggression and low social adjustment in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran. Twenty-two eligible students were randomly assigned to either a psychodrama intervention group or a comparison group. Outcomes were assessed using the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire and the Bell Adjustment Inventory before and after the intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Aggressive Behavior
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Psychodrama; Other: Control

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2023 among male adolescents aged 11-15 years at a public secondary school in Bandar Abbas, a tropical hot desert region in southern Iran. Students were screened using the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) and the Bell Adjustment Inventory (BAI). Those with high aggression (BPAQ >117) and low social adjustment (BAI score 16-20) were eligible.

Twenty-two students meeting eligibility criteria were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the psychodrama intervention group (n=11) or the comparison group (n=11). One participant in the intervention group dropped out, resulting in final analysis of 21 participants.

The intervention consisted of 10 weekly 90-minute psychodrama sessions based on Blatner's protocol, including role-playing, mirroring, soliloquy, storytelling, future projection, and relaxation exercises. The comparison group received no intervention during the study period but was offered the program after study completion.

Primary outcomes were aggression (measured by BPAQ) and social adjustment (measured by BAI), assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA and repeated measures ANOVA.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 22
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Iran
  • Kerman, Iran, 123456789
    • Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion criteria:

• Male, 7th or 8th-grade student (aged 11-13).
• BPAQ score > 117.
• BAI score between 16 and 20.
• Able to commute to after-school classes.
• Parental informed consent obtained.

Exclusion criteria:

• Physical disability or severe illness.
• History of major psychiatric disorders or current psychiatric medication use.
• Unwillingness to participate or missing >2 sessions.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Psychodrama; Participants received a 10-session structured psychodrama intervention based on Blatner's protocol. Sessions were held weekly for 90 minutes.	Behavioral: Psychodrama; Participants received a 10-session structured psychodrama intervention based on Blatner's protocol. Sessions were held weekly for 90 minutes.
Active Comparator: Standard school program; Participants continued with their standard school educational program. They received no additional sessions, therapy, or intervention during the 10-week study period. Other: Standard Care	Other: Control; The control group recieved no intervention during 10 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Bell Adjustment Inventory	Higher scores= Worst outcome (Poorer adjustment).	Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (10 weeks)
Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire	Higher scores= Worst outcome (Greater aggression).	Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (10 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 5, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 7, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): July 29, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 16, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 16, 2025
• First Posted (Estimated): December 30, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 6, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 1, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Aberrant Motor Behavior in Dementia; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Social Behavior; Aggression; Therapeutics; Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Socioenvironmental Therapy; Psychotherapy, Group; Psychodrama
• Other Study ID Numbers: IR.IAU.BA.REC.1402.049

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No