Development and validation of an Emotion Regulation-Based Intervention and Comparison of Its Effectiveness with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Improving Emotion Regulation and Communication Skills in Women with ADHD

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

2 Department of Psychology and Education of Children with Special Needs,, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

The present study aimed to develop and validate an emotion regulation–based intervention package for women with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, predominantly inattentive presentation (ADHD-I), and to compare its effectiveness with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in improving emotion regulation and communication skills. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design (qualitative–quantitative–quantitative) was employed. In the qualitative phase, therapeutic components were identified through a systematic review and content analysis of evidence-based treatment protocols and were integrated into a 12-session treatment package. The content validity of the package was assessed and confirmed through expert evaluation using the Content Validity Ratio and Content Validity Index. In the intervention phase, a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and follow-up was employed. Thirty women with ADHD-I, were screened and clinically diagnosed and then randomly assigned to one of three groups: the emotion regulation–based intervention, MBCT, or the control group. Data were collected at pretest, posttest, and a two-month follow-up using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire developed by Gross and John and the Communication Skills Test–Revised developed by Queendom. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc tests. Both interventions resulted in higher scores in emotion regulation and communication skills compared with the control group. However, the emotion regulation–based intervention resulted in higher scores on emotion regulation strategies and communication skills than MBCT. The treatment effects were also maintained at the two-month follow-up. The findings indicated that the emotion regulation–based treatment package can be an effective intervention for improving emotion regulation and communication skills in women with ADHD-I.

Keywords

Positive Psychology Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 21 September 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 January 2026
  • Revise Date: 17 September 2026
  • Accept Date: 21 September 2026

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