The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of physical contact-based theraplay program upon the problem behavior of children from multicultural families, focusing on the therapeutic intervention and preventive therapeutic support for the p...
The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of physical contact-based theraplay program upon the problem behavior of children from multicultural families, focusing on the therapeutic intervention and preventive therapeutic support for the problem behavior of children from multicultural families, in order to promote positive development and reduce negative problem behavior via forming positive relationship with adults and peers.
For this, following study questions were established:
First, 'Did the problem behavior of children from multicultural families change in the sessions of theraplay program?'
Second, 'Is the problem behavior before the sessions of theraplay program generalized in the situation of free play after carrying out the sessions?'
Study subjects were 3 children of three years of age (a boy and two girls) from multicultural families, who attending at OO Nursery in Mapo-gu, Seoul. They carried out physical contact-based theraplay program in 18 sessions (twice per week, 30 minutes per session) over the period from June 29 to August 25, 2010. In order to analyze data, all the courses of 18 sessions were transcribed. Based on such data as video shoots, the investigator and the assistant investigator's interview contents and teacher's interview contents, transcription was carried out just after finishing every session via seeing the video. The reason of prompt transcription was to timely supplement actual situations in class, environmental changes, or the portion which was not recorded due to on-site situations or unorganized situations that making the use of audio recording tools impossible. The investigator tried to transcribe them objectively. In addition, the investigator integrated such data as observational records, video shoots and other materials collected in the course of this study and then analyzed them.
And in order to examine the generalization of changes of problem behavior while they are engaging in free play after carrying out the physical contact-oriented therapplay program, the investigator filmed the problem behavior of three children from multicultural families when they were engaging in free play in the nursery in advance and then compared both of them.
Study findings are as follows:
First, the physical contact-oriented theraplay program had positive influence upon the reduction of problem behavior of children from multicultural families.
The changes of problem behavior of children from multicultural families, who took part in the physical contact-oriented theraplay program, were diverse, but the problem behavior decreased in general and the positive change of behavior increased.
Second, the reduced problem behavior during the sessions of theraplay program was generalized in the free play situations after carrying out the sessions.
The natural contact with peers and acceptable environment which was based on the physical contact-oriented theraplay program had positive influence upon the generalization of reduction of problem behavior after carrying out the sessions.
Although the effects of various therapeutic programs for children from multicultural families were verified through preceding studies, studies on the influence of theraplay programs upon children from multicultural families have not been sufficiently carried out yet. Therefore, this study seems to be meaningful in that it examined the influence of physical contact-based theraplay program upon the problem behavior of children from multicultural families and study findings will be helpful for the psychological and emotional approach to children from multicultural families, who are placed in a blind spot.