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
10.30483/rijm.2022.254299.1131
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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