Chess has shifted from a recreational activity to an educational and therapeutic tool with an impact on cognitive, emotional, and social skills. The ECAM method (Antonio Montero Cognitive Training) suggests a comprehensive intervention that prioritizes the stimulation of executive functions and socio-emotional competencies beyond technical performance, with special adaptation to vulnerable groups. This study was conducted with 24 institutionalized adults (M = 41 years, SD = 12.60), both in a penitentiary center and a therapeutic community. A battery of questionnaires was administered to evaluate the cognitive flexibility, emotional competencies, and the perception and coping with stress, comparing the effects of the ECAM method with conventional chess training for 6 months. The findings revealed relevant differences between the two methodologies, highlighting the potential of ECAM as an intervention resource. Its contributions are discussed, framing chess as a strategy for social inclusion and the promotion of well-being in psychosocial risk contexts.
Montero et al. (Wed,) studied this question.