Temperament and Change: A Pilot Investigation of Rope Therapy (RT/BMAT) and Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis (T-JTA®) in Neurodiverse Youth
Benny W. L. Lam （ Hong Kong Association of Psychology (HKAP) ）
Adrian E. K. Low （ Hong Kong Association of Psychology (HKAP) ）
Marco C. C. Wong （ Rope Therapy Association (RTA) ）
Tony Chau （ Rope Therapy Association (RTA) ）
https://doi.org/10.37155/2972-3086-0402-5Abstract
Background: Neurodiverse youth with special educational needs (SEN), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit temperament patterns characterized by heightened emotional reactivity and reduced self-regulation. Embodied interventions targeting vestibular-proprioceptive systems may offer novel pathways for temperament modulation, yet quantitative assessment tools remain underutilized in this context.
Objective: This pilot study explored the feasibility of using the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis (T-JTA®) to track temperament changes following an eight-week Rope Therapy/Body-Mind Activation Therapy (RT/BMAT) program in Hong Kong adolescents with neurodevelopmental conditions.
Methods: Thirty-five students (ages 11-13; 26 males, 9 females) with documented SEN, ADHD, or ASD completed pre- and post-intervention T-JTA® Self-Report Forms (Chinese version). The RT/BMAT protocol consisted of 16 sessions (2×/week, 60 minutes each) incorporating vestibular stimulation, proprioceptive training, and social-expressive activities. Paired t-tests examined within-group changes; effect sizes (Cohen's d) quantified magnitude of change.
Results: Significant pre-post improvements were observed in Nervous-Composed (t = 4.21, p < .001, d = 0.89), Depressive-Light-hearted (t = 3.87, p < .001, d = 0.82), Active-Social (t = -3.45, p = .001, d = 0.73), and Self-Disciplined (t = -4.02, p < .001, d = 0.85) scales. Validity concerns included high "Mid" response rates (M = 87.3, SD = 34.2) and limited age-appropriateness of the instrument.
Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest RT/BMAT may facilitate measurable temperament shifts in neurodiverse youth, though methodological limitations preclude causal inference. Results support the feasibility of larger-scale controlled trials integrating embodied therapies with standardized temperament assessment. Future research should employ age-appropriate instruments, control groups, and physiological markers to elucidate mechanisms of change.
Keywords
Temperament assessment; Sensory integration; Autism Spectrum Disorder; ADHD; Special educational needs; Pilot study; Hong Kong; Embodied therapyFull Text
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Copyright © 2025 Benny W. L. Lam, Adrian E. K. Low, Marco C. C. Wong, Tony K. T. Chow
Publishing time:2025-08-13
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
