Effectiveness of Play Therapy and Story Therapy on Depression and Anxiety Skills among Children with Leukemia: A Comparative Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Health Psychology, Kish International Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kish Island, Iran

2 Department of Health Psychology, Kish International Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kish Island, Iran; Associate Professor, Army University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Health Psychology, Kish International Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kish Island, Iran; Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Cancers are the most important cause of disease-related deaths, and children with leukemia have poor social skills and are very aggressive.
 
Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of play therapy and story therapy on social skills and aggression in children with leukemia.
 
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design and a three-month follow-up. The statistical population included all children with leukemia referred to Mahak Center in 2019. The samples (n=45) were selected and equally divided into one control and two experimental groups. The follow-up stage was performed on all groups 3 months after the post-test. The research instruments included questionnaires, namely the Children's Aggression Questionnaire and Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA.
 
Results: Both treatments had a significant effect on social skills and aggression in leukemia children (P<0.05), compared to the control group. However, play therapy had a greater impact on social skills and aggression than story therapy (P<0.05).
 
Conclusion: The effectiveness of play therapy was more than story therapy on social skills and aggression in leukemia children; consequently, play therapy is recommended for children.
 

Keywords

Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

 

References

1. Tremolada M, Taverna L, Bonichini S, Pillon M, Biffi A. The Developmental Pathways of Preschool Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia:Communicative and Social Sequelae One Year after Treatment. Children. 2019;6(8):92. https://doi.org/10.3390/children6080092
https://doi.org/10.3390/children6080092
PMid:31412554 PMCid:PMC6721313
 
2. Scott AR, Stoltzfus KC, Tchelebi LT, Trifiletti DM, Lehrer EJ, Rao P, Bleyer A, Zaorsky NG. Trends in cancer incidence in US adolescents and young adults, 1973-2015. JAMA network open. 2020;3(12):e2027738-. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.27738
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.27738
PMid:33258907 PMCid:PMC7709088
 
3. Sweet K, Asghari H. Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Epidemiology and Etiology. InAcute Leukemias 2021 (pp. 3-9). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53633-6_1
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53633-6_1
 
4. Jadidi R, Hekmatpou D, Eghbali A, Memari F, Anbari Z. "Parents a dead-end life":The main experiences of parents of children with leukemia. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2014;19(6):600.
 
5. Clerici CA, Massimino M, Ferrari A. On the clinical psychologist's role in the time of COVID‐19, with particular reference to experience gained in pediatric oncology. Psycho‐Oncol 2020;29(9):1374-1376. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5418
https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5418
PMid:32501640 PMCid:PMC7300899
 
6. Abry T, Granger KL, Bryce CI, Taylor M, Swanson J, Bradley RH. First-grade classroom-level adversity: Associations with teaching practices, academic skills, and executive functioning. School Psychol Q. 2018;33(4):547. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000235
https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000235
PMid:29792495
 
7. Frenette E, Gendron M, Hébert MH, Royer É, Morand C. Évaluation de la fiabilité d'un dispositif d'évaluation des habiletés sociales chez des adolescents ayant des troubles du comportement. Canadian J Behav Sci. 2010;42(4):284. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016651
https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016651
 
8. Dollar JM, Stifter CA, Buss KA. Exuberant and inhibited children: Person-centered profiles and links to social adjustment. Develop Psychol 2017;53(7):1222. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000323
https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000323
PMid:28471219 PMCid:PMC5481460
 
9. Stanton-Chapman TL, Justice LM, Skibbe LE, Grant SL. Social and behavioral characteristics of preschoolers with specific language impairment. Topics Early Child Spec Educ 2007;27(2):98-109. https://doi.org/10.1177/02711214070270020501
https://doi.org/10.1177/02711214070270020501
 
10. Mayes SD, Calhoun SL, Mayes RD, Molitoris S. Autism and ADHD: Overlapping and discriminating symptoms. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2012;6(1):277-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2011.05.009
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2011.05.009
 
11. Gilar-Corbí R, Pozo-Rico T, Sánchez B, Castejón JL. Can emotional competence be taught in higher education? A randomized experimental study of an emotional intelligence training program using a multimethodological approach. Frontiers in psychology. 2018;9:1039. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01039
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01039
PMid:29997545 PMCid:PMC6030676
 
12. Davids MS, Brander DM, Kim HT, Tyekucheva S, Bsat J, Savell A, Hellman JM, Bazemore J, Francoeur K, Alencar A, Shune L. Ibrutinib plus fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab as initial treatment for younger patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: a single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial. The Lancet Haematology. 2019;6(8):419-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3026(19)30104-8
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3026(19)30104-8
PMid:31208944
 
13. Abolmaali Kh. Predicting anxiety, aggression and social competence of preschool children based on maladaptive parental perfectionism. J Educ Psychol 2014;4(1):35-25.
 
14. Dewi KS, Prihatsanti U, Setyawan I. Children's aggressive behavior tendency in central java coastal region: The role of parent-child interaction, father's affection and media exposure. Procedia Environ Sci. 2015;23:192-198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2015.01.030
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2015.01.030
 
15. Trenas AF, Osuna MJ, Olivares RR, Cabrera JH. Relationship between parenting style and aggression in a Spanish children sample. Procedia Soc Behav Sci. 2013;82:529-536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.304
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.304
 
16. Kloze A, Wojtal Z. Assessment of online physiotherapy consultation for children-parents' opinions. Postepy Rehabilitacji. 2021;35(2):32. https://doi.org/10.5114/areh.2021.104906
https://doi.org/10.5114/areh.2021.104906
 
17. Sunderland M. Using story telling as a therapeutic tool with children. Routledge; 2017. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315148830
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315148830
 
18. Golestani RA, Nourabadi S. Explanation of What and How Does "Norouz Holiday and Story Design" Effect on the Creativity of Elementary Students in Iranian Educational System. Amazonia Investiga. 2019;8(24):231-8.
 
19. Zamani N, Tavallaei M, Kahdouei S. Cognitive-behavioral play therapy in children with reactive attachment disorder: help reduce anxiety, impulsivity, bullying and antisocial behaviors. Journal of Advanced Pharmacy Education & Research| Oct-Dec. 2020;10(4):45-52.
 
20. Moradian Z, Mashadi A, AghaMohammadian Sherbaf H, Asghari M. The effectiveness of storytelling based on executive actions on improving deterrence and planning/organizing students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. School Psychol Q 2015;10(2):186-204.
 
21. Nasirzadeh R, Roshan R. The Effect of Storytelling on Aggression in Six- to Eight-Year-Old Boys. IJPCP 2010;16(2):118-126.
 
22. Golparvar M, Aghaei A, Bordbar MR. Comparing the effectiveness of group story therapy and the art-play therapy on anxiety and depression in children with cancer: based on the framework, principles and rules of cognitive-behavioral approach. Iranian Journal of Rehabilitation Research. 2019;6(1):50-9.
 
23. Leonard MA, Lorch EP, Milich R, Hagans N. Parent-Child Joint Picture-Book Reading Among Children with ADHD. J Atten Disord 2009;12(4):361-371. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054708315135
https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054708315135
PMid:18367757
 
24. Boorse J, Cola M, Plate S, Yankowitz L, Pandey J, Schultz RT, Parish-Morris J. Linguistic markers of autism in girls: evidence of a "blended phenotype" during storytelling. Molecular autism. 2019 Dec;10(1):1-2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-019-0268-2
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-019-0268-2
PMid:30962869 PMCid:PMC6436231
 
25. Teimourian S, Mirzaei H, Pishyare E, Hosseinzadeh S. Effect of Group Play Therapy on Emotional/Behavioral Problems of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Aged 6-12 Years. Archives of Rehabilitation. 2020;21(3):390-405. https://doi.org/10.32598/RJ.21.3.3158.1
https://doi.org/10.32598/RJ.21.3.3158.1
 
26. Jensen SA, Biesen JN, Graham ER. A meta-analytic review of play therapy with emphasis on outcome measures. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 2017;48(5):390. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000148
https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000148
 
27. Meany‐Walen KK, Kottman T, Bullis Q, Dillman Taylor D. Effects of Adlerian play therapy on children's externalizing behavior. J Couns Dev 2015;93(4):418-428. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12040
https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12040
 
28. Rosner R, Rimane E, Frick U, Gutermann J, Hagl M, Renneberg B, Schreiber F, Vogel A, Steil R. Effect of developmentally adapted cognitive processing therapy for youth with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder after childhood sexual and physical abuse: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA psychiatry. 2019;76(5):484-91. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.4349
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.4349
PMid:30969342 PMCid:PMC6495346
 
29. Matson JL, Rotatori AF, Helsel WJ. Development of a rating scale to measure social skills in children: The Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters (MESSY). Behav Res Ther 1983;21(4):335-340. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(83)90001-3
https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(83)90001-3
PMid:6626104
 
30. Yousefi F, Khayyer M. Assessing the reliability and validity of the Matson Social Skills Scale and comparing the performance of high school girls and boys in this scale. Soc Sci Humanit 2003;18(2):147-158.
 
31. Vahedi Sh, FathiAzar E, HoseiniNasab S D, Moghaddam M. Assessing the reliability and validity of the preschool aggression scale and evaluating the level of aggression in preschool children in Urmia. Principles Mental Health 2009;10(1):15-24.
 
32. Shahabizadeh F, Khajeh Emanian F. The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy based on the anxiety of elementary school students. Know Res Appl Psychol 2018;19(1):70-80.
 
33. KarimiNasab A. The effectiveness of storytelling on reducing depression in children with cancer. In: Third National Conference on the Role and Status of the Mother, 2019.
 
34. Chari U, Hirisave U, Appaji L. Exploring play therapy in pediatric oncology: a preliminary endeavour. Indian J Pediat 2013;80(4):303-308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-012-0807-8
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-012-0807-8
PMid:22766903
 
35. Sunday KE. Drawing and storytelling as political action: Difference, plurality and coming into presence in the early childhood classroom. International Journal of Art & Design Education. 2018;37(1):6-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/jade.12097
https://doi.org/10.1111/jade.12097
 
36. Baggerly J, Parker M. Child-centered group play therapy with African American boys of the elementay school level. J Couns Dev 2005;83:387-389. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2005.tb00360.x
https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2005.tb00360.x
 
37. Danger S, Landreth G. Child-Centered Group Play Therapy with Children with Speech Difficulties. Int J Play Ther. 2005;14:81-102. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0088897
https://doi.org/10.1037/h0088897
 
38. Ahmadi Bouzendan S, Khodabakhshi-Koolaee A, falsafinejad M R. The Effect of Child-Centered Play Therapy Based on Nature on Attention and Aggression of Children with Asperger Disorder (a single case study). JPEN. 2019;5(3):59-67.
Razavi International Journal of Medicine
Volume 10, Issue 4
December 2022

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics