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Effect of play therapy on behavioral problems of maladjusted preschool children

Niloufar Jafari1, Mohammad Reza Mohammadi, Mehdi Khanbani

  • 1Faculty of Psychology,Tehran University, Tehran, Iran.

Iranian Journal of Psychiatry
|September 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Play therapy effectively reduces behavioral problems in children with oppositional defiant disorder. This intervention significantly decreased symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the experimental group compared to the control group.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Behavioral Therapy
  • Developmental Disorders

Background:

  • Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) presents significant behavioral challenges in children.
  • Early intervention is crucial for managing ODD symptoms and preventing long-term issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of play therapy in mitigating behavioral problems among children diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder.
  • To assess the impact of play therapy on reducing the severity of ODD symptoms and associated conditions like ADHD.

Main Methods:

  • A quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test was employed.
  • 16 preschool children with severe ODD symptoms were selected and randomly assigned to either a play therapy (experimental) or control group.
  • Data was collected using the Child Symptom Inventory (CSI-4) and a self-control checklist.

Main Results:

  • Play therapy led to a statistically significant reduction in oppositional defiant disorder symptoms (P<0.001).
  • The experimental group receiving play therapy showed a significant decrease in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms compared to the control group.
  • Play therapy demonstrated a positive effect in reducing the severity of behavioral issues in children with ODD.

Conclusions:

  • Play therapy is an effective intervention for reducing disobedience and behavioral problems in children with oppositional defiant disorder.
  • The findings support the use of play therapy as a therapeutic approach for children exhibiting ODD symptoms.
Abstract

Keywords:
Attention deficit and disruptive behavior disorderPlay therapychild

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