Abstract
The purpose of this pilot study was to compare the changes on selected measures of body image of 22 trainable, mentally retarded youth, following 10 week programs of either movement therapy or physical education. The mean age was 15 years, 10 months. Cratty and Sams’ Body Image Screening Test and the Draw-A-Person Test by Machover were given before and after the 10 weeks as an indication of body image. The Body Image Test results showed significantly greater improvement in the movement therapy group than the physical education group. There was no significant change for either group from pre to post test on the Draw-A-Person Test. The results indicate movement therapy has a positive effect on improving the body image of the trainable, mentally retarded youth.
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This pilot study was based on portions of a Master’s thesis submitted to the University of California, Los Angeles.
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Franklin, S.B. Movement therapy and selected measures of body image in the trainable, mentally retarded. Am J Dance Ther 3, 43–50 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02579548
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02579548