The present study examined effects of structured group play therapy on withdrawal behavior of mentally retarded child in institutions.
Pretest-posttest design was adopted. Subjects were four children, two of them were within the clinical spectrum of ...
The present study examined effects of structured group play therapy on withdrawal behavior of mentally retarded child in institutions.
Pretest-posttest design was adopted. Subjects were four children, two of them were within the clinical spectrum of 70T or more according to withdrawal scale of K-CBCL. They took subjects took 12 sessions of structure group play therapy.
Changes in frequency of withdrawal behavior were examined by recording free play for 10 minutes before and after the application of group play therapy and during intervention period, and by measuring the frequency of withdrawal behaviors every 30 seconds while watching the recorded film.
Changes in their withdrawal behavior in institutions were also observed by teachers and the results of pretest and posttest were compared with each other.
The results were as follows: First, as structured group play therapy was progressed, frequency of children's withdrawal behavior decreased gradually in free play situation. Second, withdrawal behavior in daily life that teachers observed in institutions decreased after the application of the program.
Putting all together, the structured group play therapy is effective in decreasing withdrawal behaviors of mentally retarded children in institutions.