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Effectiveness of theraplay and filial therapy on aggression in preschool boys

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Abstract

This study intended to examine the effectiveness of Theraplay and Filial therapy on the reduction of aggression in preschool boys. The research used a pretest–posttest control group design. This was a double-blind randomized experimental study that was done with pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages within two experimental groups and the waitlist control group. The participants were 45 preschool boys aged 5–7 years old assigned by a random sampling method in each group (15 participants in each group). The Aggression Scale for Preschool (ASP) was used in this study. The first experimental group received 10 Theraplay sessions, which were held weekly for 60 min, and the second experimental group got Filial therapy sessions, which were held weekly for 60 min. The control group did not get any intervention. The pre-test and post-test were applied to both experimental groups and the control group, and three months later, they completed another survey. The results showed that both Theraplay and Filial therapy significantly reduced aggression in children compared with the control group during the post-test and follow-up stages. However, there was no significant difference between the two therapies during the post-test and the follow-up stages. Both treatments may apply common elements and strategies for dealing with negative emotions, which makes them equally effective in decrease of aggression in preschool boys.

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The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the relevant author upon reasonable request.

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  1. Dr. Bayat Counseling Center, Shiraz, Iran

    Zahra Rezaeianzadeh

  2. Psychology Department, California Southern University, Chandler, AZ, USA

    Freshteh Yazdanfar

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  1. Zahra Rezaeianzadeh
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Correspondence to Zahra Rezaeianzadeh.

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Rezaeianzadeh, Z., Yazdanfar, F. Effectiveness of theraplay and filial therapy on aggression in preschool boys. Curr Psychol 43, 17602–17613 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-05743-w

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