The Effects of Play Therapy on Reducing Behavioral Problems, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity in Children

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of play therapy on reducing behavioral problems, attention deficit and hyperactivity in children.

The present study followed an applied-experimental design (pre-test-post-test) with a control group. The statistical population consisted of all the hyperactive 7-12-year-old boys of an elementary school in the 2nd district of Shiraz in the academic year 2018-2019. A sample of 24 individuals in the fifth and sixth grades (average age of 11 years) were selected based on the inclusion criteria and were randomly divided into two groups (12 in the control group and 12 in the experimental group). The experimental group underwent play therapy training in eight 90-min sessions with the cooperation of school psychologists. In order to collect data, Rutter's Behavioral Problems Questionnaire (Parent Form) and Conners Rating Questionnaire were used to evaluate the subjects, and the collected data was analyzed in the form of descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (analysis of covariance, for hypothesis testing). Data analysis was performed using SPSS-24 software.

The results of data analysis showed that play therapy was associated with significant effectiveness in reducing behavioral problems and reducing attention deficit and hyperactivity in primary school children, and it reduced behavioral problems and the severity of hyperactivity symptoms.