The Effectiveness of Sand Play Therapy on Anxiety and Achievement Motivation of Primary School Students

Background and Sand Play therapy is a non-verbal and symbolic way in which the learner tries to express his or her conflicts, tendencies, and emotions by building an imaginary world. Thus, the present study was conducted with the aim of the effectiveness of sand play therapy therapy on anxiety and achievement motivation of primary students.
This research was a semi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test control group design. The statistical population included all third grade students of Kerman city in the academic year of 2019-2020. The sample consisted of 50 students from the statistical population who were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups (25 students in each group). Hermen's Achievement Motivation Test (1970) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (1990) were used to collect data in this study. In the pre-test phase, both groups were assessed using the mentioned tools, and then sand play therapy was performed in nine 45- minute session for experimental group, and the control group did not receive any intervention. The collected data were analyzed by covariance analysis.
The results of data analysis showed that the level of anxiety of the experimental group decreased and the level of motivation, increased (F=3/865, P<0/01) after performing play activities (F=8/235, P<0/01).
Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that children can express more appropriate and social behaviors through play and use it as a way to evacuate their emotions and reduce their anxious behaviors. Also, sand play therapy allows students who are not motivated and interested in learning lessons to gain new educational and learning opportunities, which in turn increases their motivation to progress.