Psychological Research in Individuals with Exceptional Needs (PRIEN)

The establishment of the Psychological Research in Individuals with Exceptional Needs (PRIEN) Journal marks a significant milestone in the field of psychology. This pioneering international academic journal is dedicated to addressing the multifaceted psychological needs of individuals with exceptionalities. Our mission is to promote understanding, support, and advancement for those with unique psychological needs, ranging from developmental and emotional challenges to cognitive exceptionalities and giftedness. As we introduce PRIEN Journal to the world, we aim to set the stage for meaningful progress in this crucial field. The landscape of psychological research is vast, yet there remains a critical need for focused studies on individuals with exceptional needs. The PRIEN Journal addresses this gap by offering a platform for high-quality original research, comprehensive reviews, thought-provoking editorials, and insightful communications. This focus ensures that our content is relevant and beneficial to both practitioners and scholars who work with this diverse population. Our journal aims to highlight such impactful studies and bring them to the forefront of academic and clinical practice. As we launch the PRIEN Journal, we invite researchers, practitioners, and scholars to contribute their work and join us in advancing the understanding and support of individuals with exceptional needs. Together, we can set the stage for progress, driving forward research and practice that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

The objective of this study was to explore and develop effective counseling strategies to enhance self-advocacy among young adults with disabilities. This qualitative research involved semi-structured interviews with 22 young adults aged 18 to 30 with various disabilities, including physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. Participants were recruited through disability support organizations, educational institutions, and social media platforms. The data collection focused on understanding participants' experiences, challenges, and strategies related to self-advocacy. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes and patterns in the data, with the goal of achieving theoretical saturation. The analysis revealed three main themes: understanding of self-advocacy, experiences with self-advocacy, and challenges and barriers to self-advocacy. Participants highlighted the importance of self-advocacy for personal empowerment and independence. Positive advocacy experiences were linked to increased self-esteem and better outcomes in education and employment. Support systems, such as family and counselors, were crucial in facilitating self-advocacy. However, significant barriers included societal attitudes, institutional policies, and personal limitations. Assistive technology and comprehensive leadership training were identified as effective strategies for enhancing self-advocacy skills. Enhancing self-advocacy among young adults with disabilities requires targeted counseling interventions that focus on building essential skills and addressing barriers. Collaborative approaches involving family and community support are critical. Policymakers should implement inclusive policies and ensure access to assistive technologies. Future research should explore the long-term impact of self-advocacy training and consider the intersectionality of disability with other factors such as race and gender.

The objective of this study was to explore and identify effective differentiated instruction (DI) strategies for students with learning disabilities in mainstream educational settings. This qualitative research involved semi-structured interviews with 21 participants, including general education teachers, special education teachers, and educational administrators from an urban school district. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, ensuring a diverse representation of educators with extensive experience in teaching students with learning disabilities. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify patterns and themes related to DI strategies, perceived effectiveness, implementation challenges, and support mechanisms. The study identified several key DI strategies, including differentiated content, process, product, and environment, along with the integration of technology. These strategies were reported to enhance student engagement, academic achievement, and social-emotional development. However, significant challenges such as time constraints, limited resources, and the need for professional development were highlighted. Support mechanisms, including professional development opportunities, collaborative practices, administrative backing, community resources, parental engagement, and technological support, were identified as crucial for successful DI implementation. Differentiated instruction is an effective approach to addressing the diverse needs of students with learning disabilities, promoting inclusivity and improving educational outcomes. Despite its benefits, the successful implementation of DI requires addressing substantial challenges through targeted support mechanisms. Future research should focus on expanding the sample size, exploring long-term impacts, and investigating the role of technology in DI. Practical recommendations include enhancing professional development, fostering collaboration, securing administrative support, engaging community resources, and increasing parental involvement.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT) in improving emotion regulation and critical thinking skills in individuals with hearing impairments. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 participants (15 in the intervention group receiving SIT and 15 in the control group). The intervention consisted of ten 75-minute SIT sessions over a two-month period. Emotion regulation and critical thinking were measured at three time points: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up, using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA), respectively. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. Significant improvements in emotion regulation were observed in the intervention group from pre-intervention (M = 95.45, SD = 12.78) to post-intervention (M = 81.32, SD = 11.45), and maintained at follow-up (M = 82.67, SD = 12.01). The control group showed no significant changes. For critical thinking, the intervention group’s scores increased significantly from pre-intervention (M = 28.67, SD = 5.23) to post-intervention (M = 36.78, SD = 4.89), and remained high at follow-up (M = 35.54, SD = 4.67). The control group’s scores did not change significantly. ANOVA results indicated significant main effects for time and group for both variables (p < .001), with significant interaction effects (p < .001). Sensory Integration Therapy significantly improves emotion regulation and critical thinking in individuals with hearing impairments, with effects sustained over a two-month follow-up. These findings support the use of SIT as an effective intervention for enhancing cognitive and emotional skills in this population.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing (MI) in enhancing extracurricular involvement and emotional self-efficacy among individuals with learning disabilities. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 participants diagnosed with learning disabilities. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 15) receiving eight 90-minute sessions of MI or a control group (n = 15) receiving no intervention. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and at a five-month follow-up using the Student Engagement in Extracurricular Activities Scale (SEAS) and the Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-27. The intervention group showed significant improvements in extracurricular involvement (baseline mean = 25.67, SD = 3.12; post-intervention mean = 35.78, SD = 4.23; follow-up mean = 34.45, SD = 4.01) compared to the control group (baseline mean = 24.89, SD = 3.24; post-intervention mean = 25.12, SD = 3.30; follow-up mean = 25.05, SD = 3.28). Similarly, emotional self-efficacy scores significantly increased in the intervention group (baseline mean = 55.34, SD = 6.45; post-intervention mean = 68.23, SD = 7.01; follow-up mean = 66.45, SD = 6.78) compared to the control group (baseline mean = 54.78, SD = 6.51; post-intervention mean = 55.23, SD = 6.63; follow-up mean = 54.90, SD = 6.52). The ANOVA results indicated significant main effects of group and time, and significant interactions between time and group for both variables (p < .001). Motivational Interviewing significantly enhances extracurricular involvement and emotional self-efficacy among individuals with learning disabilities. These findings suggest that MI is an effective intervention for improving participation and emotional skills in this population.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of social skills training on enhancing self-determination and working memory in individuals with visual impairments. A randomized controlled trial design was used, involving 40 participants with visual impairments, randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The intervention group underwent ten 60-minute sessions of social skills training over four months, while the control group received no specific intervention. Self-determination was assessed using the Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report (SDI), and working memory was measured using the Working Memory Questionnaire (WMQ). Data were collected at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and a four-month follow-up. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were conducted using SPSS version 27. Participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements in self-determination from pre-intervention (M = 45.25, SD = 6.34) to post-intervention (M = 58.43, SD = 5.27) and at the four-month follow-up (M = 55.37, SD = 5.82). Similarly, working memory scores improved from pre-intervention (M = 39.18, SD = 7.24) to post-intervention (M = 51.22, SD = 6.05) and were maintained at follow-up (M = 48.76, SD = 6.50). The ANOVA results indicated significant main effects for self-determination (F(2, 76) = 41.52, p < .001, η² = 0.53) and working memory (F(2, 76) = 38.19, p < .001, η² = 0.50), as well as significant time x group interaction effects (self-determination: F(2, 76) = 32.35, p < .001, η² = 0.46; working memory: F(2, 76) = 31.88, p < .001, η² = 0.45). The findings demonstrate that social skills training is significantly effective in enhancing self-determination and working memory in individuals with visual impairments. These improvements were sustained over a four-month follow-up period, suggesting the potential of such interventions to positively impact cognitive and social functioning in this population.