Effect of Sports Based Structured Cognitive Therapy Program on Attention, Memory and Behavior for School Going Children

Effect of a Sports-Based Structured Cognitive Therapy Program on Attention, Memory, and Behavior in School-Going Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effect of a sports-based structured cognitive therapy program on attention, memory, and behavior in school-going children aged 8-12 years with mild to moderate attention or behavioral difficulties. A total of 52 participants will be randomly allocated to either an experimental group receiving an 8-week sports-based structured cognitive therapy program or a control group receiving conventional physical activity. The intervention will be delivered three times per week. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8 using the Stroop Test, Teacher Report Form (TRF), and Behavior Rating Scale to determine changes in attention, memory, and behavior

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Behavior Problems; Cognitive Functions; Attention Problems
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Sports-Based Structured Cognitive Therapy Program; Behavioral: Conventional Physical Activity

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a sports-based structured cognitive therapy program on attention, memory, and behavior in school-going children aged 8-12 years with mild to moderate attention or behavioral difficulties. The primary objective is to determine whether participation in an 8-week sports-based structured cognitive therapy program improves attention, memory, and behavior compared with conventional physical activity. Attention will be assessed using the Stroop Test, behavioral and academic functioning using the Teacher Report Form (TRF), and behavior using the Behavior Rating Scale.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 52
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Zobia Naseem, MS; Phone Number: +923321963584; Email: zobia.naseem@riphah.edu.pk
• Study Contact Backup: Name: noreen khan, Phd; Phone Number: 03369687196

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Kpk
    • Chak Six Hundred Twenty-four, Kpk, Pakistan, 25000
      • Recruiting
      • Gghss Sarai Naimat Khan Haripur

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• School-going children aged 8-12 years.
• Children with mild to moderate attention or behavioral difficulties.
• Children enrolled in participating primary or secondary schools in Haripur District.
• Written informed consent obtained from a parent or legal guardian.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children diagnosed with severe neurological or psychiatric disorders.
• Children with physical disabilities that prevent participation in sports-based activities.
• Children currently participating in another structured cognitive or physical intervention program.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Sports-Based Structured Cognitive Therapy; Participants assigned to the experimental group will receive an 8-week Sports-Based Structured Cognitive Therapy Program delivered three sessions per week, with each session lasting 45-60 minutes. The intervention integrates structured physical activities with cognitive tasks targeting attention, memory, executive function, and behavioral regulation. Activities include aerobic exercises, attention drills, memory exercises, and behavior-regulation games delivered at moderate to vigorous intensity.	Behavioral: Sports-Based Structured Cognitive Therapy Program; Participants will receive an 8-week Sports-Based Structured Cognitive Therapy Program delivered three times per week. The program combines structured physical activities with cognitive tasks designed to improve attention, memory, executive function, and behavioral regulation through attention drills, memory exercises, and behavior-regulation games.
Active Comparator: Conventional Physical Activity; Participants assigned to the control group will receive conventional physical activity consisting of routine exercise-based activities supervised by a licensed physical therapist. Sessions will be conducted three times per week for 45-60 minutes over 8 weeks and will include warm-up exercises, stretching, balance activities, classroom games, and cool-down exercises without structured cognitive-sports integration.	Behavioral: Conventional Physical Activity; Participants will receive conventional physical activity consisting of routine exercise-based activities including warm-up exercises, stretching, balance activities, classroom games, and cool-down exercises for 45-60 minutes per session, three sessions per week for 8 weeks, without structured cognitive training.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Stroop Interference Score	The Stroop Test will be used to assess selective attention and inhibitory control. The outcome will be measured using the Stroop Interference Score. Lower interference scores indicate better inhibitory control and attention.	Baseline, Week 4, and Week 8
Teacher Report Form (TRF) T-score	The Teacher Report Form (TRF) will be used to assess behavioral, emotional, and academic functioning in the school environment. The outcome will be summarized using the standardized TRF T-score according to the scoring procedures of the instrument.	Baseline, Week 4, and Week 8
Behavior Rating Scale Total Score	The Behavior Rating Scale will be used to assess behavioral functioning in children. The outcome will be summarized using the total score obtained according to the scoring procedures of the scale.	Baseline, Week 4, and Week 8

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Movement-Sequence Recall Score	Memory performance will be assessed using a movement-sequence recall task. The outcome will be summarized as the number of movement sequences correctly recalled.	Baseline, Week 4, and Week 8
Number Recall Score	Memory performance will be assessed using a number-recall task. The outcome will be summarized as the number of numerical sequences correctly recalled.	Baseline, Week 4, and Week 8
Word Recall Score	Memory performance will be assessed using a word-recall task. The outcome will be summarized as the number of words correctly recalled.	Baseline, Week 4, and Week 8

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Zobia Naseem, MS, Riphah International University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 16, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 5, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 25, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): August 26, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 26, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 25, 2026
• Last Verified: August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Behavior; Attention; Memory; Cognitive Training; Sports-Based Cognitive Therapy; School-Going Children
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Behavior
• Other Study ID Numbers: Aqsa Imtiaz

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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