Intervention Effects of Group Sandplay Therapy on Children at Risk of Smartphone Addiction: Focusing on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in the Korean Youth Self Report

<b>Objectives</b>: this study examined the intervention effects of group sandplay therapy (GST) on children at risk of smartphone addiction. <b>Methods</b>: The participants consisted of 113 elementary school students in grades 5 and 6 (ages 11–12), with 57 in the interventio...

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Main Authors: Yang Hee Lee, Heajin Shin, Eunju Bae, Youngil Lee, Chang Min Lee, Se Hoon Shim, Min Sun Kim, Myung Ho Lim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Children
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/593
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author Yang Hee Lee
Heajin Shin
Eunju Bae
Youngil Lee
Chang Min Lee
Se Hoon Shim
Min Sun Kim
Myung Ho Lim
author_facet Yang Hee Lee
Heajin Shin
Eunju Bae
Youngil Lee
Chang Min Lee
Se Hoon Shim
Min Sun Kim
Myung Ho Lim
author_sort Yang Hee Lee
collection DOAJ
description <b>Objectives</b>: this study examined the intervention effects of group sandplay therapy (GST) on children at risk of smartphone addiction. <b>Methods</b>: The participants consisted of 113 elementary school students in grades 5 and 6 (ages 11–12), with 57 in the intervention group and 56 in the control group. The intervention group participated in the GST program once a week for 40 min over 10 weeks, while the control group received no intervention. The Youth Smartphone Addiction Scale (S-scale) and the Korean Youth Self Report (K-YSR) were used to assess the program. Additionally, a repeated measures ANOVA was employed to examine changes between pre- and post-tests. <b>Results</b>: compared to the control group, the intervention group that received GST showed a significant reduction in smartphone addiction (<i>F</i> = 7.355, <i>p</i> = 0.020), withdrawal/depression (<i>F</i> = 5.540, <i>p</i> = 0.032), and somatic symptoms (<i>F</i> = 4.542, <i>p</i> = 0.040) compared to the control group. <b>Conclusions</b>: GST was found to be effective in reducing smartphone addiction, depression, and somatic symptoms in children at risk for smartphone addiction.
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spelling doaj-art-9ff38a8ba1194e1bb054dcc814c498a32025-08-20T01:56:25ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-05-0112559310.3390/children12050593Intervention Effects of Group Sandplay Therapy on Children at Risk of Smartphone Addiction: Focusing on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in the Korean Youth Self ReportYang Hee Lee0Heajin Shin1Eunju Bae2Youngil Lee3Chang Min Lee4Se Hoon Shim5Min Sun Kim6Myung Ho Lim7Department of Psychology, Graduate School, Dankook University, 119 Dandae-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 31116, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Psychology, Graduate School, Dankook University, 119 Dandae-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 31116, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Psychology, Graduate School, Dankook University, 119 Dandae-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 31116, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Dankook University, 119 Dandae-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 31116, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Neurology, College of Medicine, Dankook University, 119 Dandae-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 31116, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Asan 31538, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Psychology, Graduate School, Dankook University, 119 Dandae-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 31116, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Psychology, Graduate School, Dankook University, 119 Dandae-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea<b>Objectives</b>: this study examined the intervention effects of group sandplay therapy (GST) on children at risk of smartphone addiction. <b>Methods</b>: The participants consisted of 113 elementary school students in grades 5 and 6 (ages 11–12), with 57 in the intervention group and 56 in the control group. The intervention group participated in the GST program once a week for 40 min over 10 weeks, while the control group received no intervention. The Youth Smartphone Addiction Scale (S-scale) and the Korean Youth Self Report (K-YSR) were used to assess the program. Additionally, a repeated measures ANOVA was employed to examine changes between pre- and post-tests. <b>Results</b>: compared to the control group, the intervention group that received GST showed a significant reduction in smartphone addiction (<i>F</i> = 7.355, <i>p</i> = 0.020), withdrawal/depression (<i>F</i> = 5.540, <i>p</i> = 0.032), and somatic symptoms (<i>F</i> = 4.542, <i>p</i> = 0.040) compared to the control group. <b>Conclusions</b>: GST was found to be effective in reducing smartphone addiction, depression, and somatic symptoms in children at risk for smartphone addiction.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/593smartphone addictiongroup sandplay therapysandplay therapydepressionsomatic symptoms
spellingShingle Yang Hee Lee
Heajin Shin
Eunju Bae
Youngil Lee
Chang Min Lee
Se Hoon Shim
Min Sun Kim
Myung Ho Lim
Intervention Effects of Group Sandplay Therapy on Children at Risk of Smartphone Addiction: Focusing on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in the Korean Youth Self Report
Children
smartphone addiction
group sandplay therapy
sandplay therapy
depression
somatic symptoms
title Intervention Effects of Group Sandplay Therapy on Children at Risk of Smartphone Addiction: Focusing on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in the Korean Youth Self Report
title_full Intervention Effects of Group Sandplay Therapy on Children at Risk of Smartphone Addiction: Focusing on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in the Korean Youth Self Report
title_fullStr Intervention Effects of Group Sandplay Therapy on Children at Risk of Smartphone Addiction: Focusing on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in the Korean Youth Self Report
title_full_unstemmed Intervention Effects of Group Sandplay Therapy on Children at Risk of Smartphone Addiction: Focusing on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in the Korean Youth Self Report
title_short Intervention Effects of Group Sandplay Therapy on Children at Risk of Smartphone Addiction: Focusing on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in the Korean Youth Self Report
title_sort intervention effects of group sandplay therapy on children at risk of smartphone addiction focusing on internalizing and externalizing problems in the korean youth self report
topic smartphone addiction
group sandplay therapy
sandplay therapy
depression
somatic symptoms
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/593
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