Effectiveness of Group Play Therapy, Storytelling and Creative Drama on Anxiety Reduction in Elementary Male Students in Tehran

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of group play therapy, storytelling and creative drama on anxiety reduction in elementary male students in Tehran. The design of the study was quasi-experimental, pre-test, and post-test with control group, which is considered as an applied research in terms of purpose. The statistical population included all male students of the first elementary school in Tehran. 45 students with anxiety syndrome were selected randomly in a cluster, and randomly assigned to three groups of fifteen. Also, a group of 15 students was selected as a control group. Group play therapy in 9 sessions, storytelling with 5 stories and 7 sessions, and creative drama in 10 sessions, each run for 30 to 45 minutes in experimental groups. The data collection tool was Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED), and the data were collected in three stages, pre-test, post-test and follow-up < span lang="AR-SA" dir="RTL">.The results of multivariate analysis of covariance showed that group play therapy, storytelling and creative drama had a significant effect on the reduction of anxiety and this effect has been preserved in the follow-up phase. The results of this study can be recommended to mental health professionals working with children.