Massage and Storytelling Reduce Aggression and Improve Academic Performance in Children Attending Elementary School

Background. Aggressive behaviors must be addressed in elementary schools. Massage and storytelling can be strategies to deal with aggression because both involve experience exchange and social interaction. Both can decrease stress and anxiety and increase self-esteem. Objective. To evaluate the effe...

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Main Authors: Lia Lopes Gonçalves, Mariana Callil Voos, Maria Helena Morgani de Almeida, Fátima Aparecida Caromano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Occupational Therapy International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/5087145
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author Lia Lopes Gonçalves
Mariana Callil Voos
Maria Helena Morgani de Almeida
Fátima Aparecida Caromano
author_facet Lia Lopes Gonçalves
Mariana Callil Voos
Maria Helena Morgani de Almeida
Fátima Aparecida Caromano
author_sort Lia Lopes Gonçalves
collection DOAJ
description Background. Aggressive behaviors must be addressed in elementary schools. Massage and storytelling can be strategies to deal with aggression because both involve experience exchange and social interaction. Both can decrease stress and anxiety and increase self-esteem. Objective. To evaluate the effect of two interventions (massage and storytelling) on aggressive behaviors and academic performance of elementary school children. Method. Three groups (n=35 children in each group) of the second grade participated (aged 6.5–8.1 years). One group received ten extra classes of massage (MG), another group received extra classes of storytelling (SG), and the control group received extra classes of random subjects (CG). Extra classes lasted for 50 minutes, once a week. Aggressive behaviors were recorded on diaries, by the teachers and the coordinator. The frequency of aggressive behaviors and the academic performance of MG, SG, and CG were observed for six months and the groups were compared. Findings. ANOVAs evidenced that MG and SG, but not CG, showed a reduction in aggressive behaviors registered by the teachers and coordinator, after the intervention. Academic performance of MG and SC improved after the intervention (p<0.05).
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series Occupational Therapy International
spelling doaj-art-bcbfe83078844db48160c85b8044fd742025-08-20T03:23:19ZengWileyOccupational Therapy International0966-79031557-07032017-01-01201710.1155/2017/50871455087145Massage and Storytelling Reduce Aggression and Improve Academic Performance in Children Attending Elementary SchoolLia Lopes Gonçalves0Mariana Callil Voos1Maria Helena Morgani de Almeida2Fátima Aparecida Caromano3Department of Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Sciences Post Graduation Program, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilDepartment of Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Sciences Post Graduation Program, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilDepartment of Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Sciences Post Graduation Program, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilDepartment of Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Sciences Post Graduation Program, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilBackground. Aggressive behaviors must be addressed in elementary schools. Massage and storytelling can be strategies to deal with aggression because both involve experience exchange and social interaction. Both can decrease stress and anxiety and increase self-esteem. Objective. To evaluate the effect of two interventions (massage and storytelling) on aggressive behaviors and academic performance of elementary school children. Method. Three groups (n=35 children in each group) of the second grade participated (aged 6.5–8.1 years). One group received ten extra classes of massage (MG), another group received extra classes of storytelling (SG), and the control group received extra classes of random subjects (CG). Extra classes lasted for 50 minutes, once a week. Aggressive behaviors were recorded on diaries, by the teachers and the coordinator. The frequency of aggressive behaviors and the academic performance of MG, SG, and CG were observed for six months and the groups were compared. Findings. ANOVAs evidenced that MG and SG, but not CG, showed a reduction in aggressive behaviors registered by the teachers and coordinator, after the intervention. Academic performance of MG and SC improved after the intervention (p<0.05).http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/5087145
spellingShingle Lia Lopes Gonçalves
Mariana Callil Voos
Maria Helena Morgani de Almeida
Fátima Aparecida Caromano
Massage and Storytelling Reduce Aggression and Improve Academic Performance in Children Attending Elementary School
Occupational Therapy International
title Massage and Storytelling Reduce Aggression and Improve Academic Performance in Children Attending Elementary School
title_full Massage and Storytelling Reduce Aggression and Improve Academic Performance in Children Attending Elementary School
title_fullStr Massage and Storytelling Reduce Aggression and Improve Academic Performance in Children Attending Elementary School
title_full_unstemmed Massage and Storytelling Reduce Aggression and Improve Academic Performance in Children Attending Elementary School
title_short Massage and Storytelling Reduce Aggression and Improve Academic Performance in Children Attending Elementary School
title_sort massage and storytelling reduce aggression and improve academic performance in children attending elementary school
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/5087145
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