A comparative study on the effectiveness of play therapy and story therapy on depression and anxiety skills in children with leukemia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

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

2 Professor in Department of Psychology, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran

3 Mahak Hematology-Oncology Research Center (Mahak-HORC), Mahak Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran,

5 Department of Psychology, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Cancers are the most important cause of death from diseases 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 study was quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up. The statistical population included all children with leukemia referred to Mahak Center in 2019. 45 children were selected and equally divided into one control and two experimental groups. The follow-up stage was performed on all groups three months after the post-test. The research instruments included Aggression Children Questionnaire and Social Skills Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA.

Results: Compared to the control group, both treatments had a significant effect on social skills and aggression in leukemia children (p<0.05). Also, play therapy had a greater impact on social skills and aggression than story therapy (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The effectiveness of play therapy on social skills and aggression in leukemia children was more than story therapy, so play therapy is recommended for children.

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