IMPACT OF CHILD-CENTERED PLAY TH ERAPY ON CHILDREN OF DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES Jennifer L. Dougherty, M.S. Dissertation Prepared for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS May 2006 APPROVED: Dee Ray, Major Professor Cynthia Chandler, Committee Member Casey Barrio, Committee Member Carolyn Kern, Coordinator of Counseling Program Ron Newsom, Interim Chair of the Department of Counseling, Development, and Higher Education M. Jean Keller, Dean of the College of Education Sandra L. Terrell, Dean of the Robert B. Toulouse School of Graduate Studies Dougherty, Jennifer L., Impact of Child-Centered Play Therapy on Children of Different Developmental Stages. Doctor of Philosophy (Counselor Education), May 2006, 119 p., 20 tables, 3 figures, references, 65 titles. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of child-centered play therapy on children of Piaget’s preoperational and concrete operations developmental stages. Piaget’s assertions about the contributions of play to cognitive, affective, and social development have provided a basis for the theoretical rationale for the use of play as a therapeutic intervention. The impact of child-centered play therapy was measured by a decrease in parent-child relationship stress as measured by scores on the Child Domain, Parent Domain, and Total Stress Score of the Parenting Stress Index. This study utilized a three wave repeated measures ANOVA design to analyze the impact of child-centered play therapy on children between the ages of 3-8 who received 19-23 individual child-centered play therapy sessions. A pretest, approximate midpoint, and posttest administration was collected for use in the analysis. The population study comprised 24 children referred to the Child and Family Resource Clinic on the University of North Texas campus. Participating children were divided into two treatment groups based on their age at the time of treatment. The preoperational development treatment group consisted of 12 children aged of 3-6 years and the concrete operations development treatment group consisted of children aged 7- 8 years. Nine hypotheses were tested using three wave repeated measures ANOVA and eta squared. The results of this study tentatively support the impact of child- centered play therapy with children of both the preoperational and concrete operations developmental stages. The data indicates a statistically significant difference in the impact of child-centered play therapy for children of different developmental stages. Copyright 2006 by Jennifer L. Dougherty ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation process would not be complete without acknowledging the assistance of the many individuals who contributed extensive time, energy, and support. I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to those who supported me and encouraged me throughout this experience. My heartfelt appreciation is extended to my major professor, Dr. Dee Ray. Without your knowledge and enthusiasm for working with children I would have been unable to successfully complete this project. The integrity you maintain and dedication with which you apply yourself to promoting counseling and play therapy through educating students, conducting research, supervising counselors, and chairing dissertations has earned my unending respect. Thank you. My committee members, Dr. Cindy Chandler and Dr. Casey Barrio, provided me with recommendations for strengthening my study and encouragement to continue through this process. Dr. Barrio, thank you for the time and energy you committed to assisting me in producing my very best final project. Dr. Chandler, your knowledge of research and design was invaluable. I cannot conclude without recognizing the contributions and sacrifices of my family and friends. First my husband Adam for making the most significant sacrifice of time and providing me endless encouragement. Thank you for proofing my document and listening to my feelings of concern and excitement throughout this process. Without you this would not have been fun or possible. Also, sincere appreciation is extended to my mother, father, sister and father-in-law. Thank you for your continued interest and encouragement. I am richly blessed by your involvement in my life. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................iii LIST OF TABLES..........................................................................................................vi LIST OF FIGURES......................................................................................................viii Chapters I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ............................................................. 5 Purpose of the Study..................................................................... 6 Review of the Literature ............................................................... 7 Summary..................................................................................... 25 II. METHODS AND PROCEDURES .......................................................... 27 Hypotheses ................................................................................. 27 Definition of Terms...................................................................... 30 Instrumentation ........................................................................... 31 Participant Selection ................................................................... 36 Data Collection............................................................................ 39 Treatment.................................................................................... 40 Data Analysis .............................................................................. 42 III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .............................................................. 47 Results ........................................................................................ 47 Post Hoc Clinical Significance Analysis ...................................... 66 Discussion................................................................................... 68 Implications ................................................................................. 87 Limitations or the Study............................................................... 90 Recommendations for Future Research ..................................... 92 Conclusion .................................................................................. 93 Appendices A. NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICE AND INFORMED CONSENT ........ 97 iv B. CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT OF NOTICE OF PRIVACY AND INFORMED CONSENT ....................................................................... 102 C. CHILD/ADOLESCENT BACKGROUND INFORMATION FORM......... 104 REFERENCES.......................................................................................................... 115 v TABLES Page 1. Demographic Information for the Children Participating in the Study ............... 38 2. Average Number of Sessions and Length Between Sessions for Children in the Preoperational and Concrete Operations Development Treatment Groups ..... 39 3. Mean Scores of the Preoperational Development Treatment Group on the Child Domain of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI)..................................................... 50 4. Repeated Measures ANOVA Summary Table on the Child Domain of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) for the Preoperational Treatment Group............. 50 5. Mean Scores of the Concrete Operations Development Treatment Group on the Child Domain of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI)............................................ 51 6. Repeated Measures ANOVA Summary Table on the Child Domain of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) for the Concrete Operations Treatment Group... 52 7. Mean Scores for the Preoperational and Concrete Operations Development Treatment Groups and Total Children on the Child Domain of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) ............................................................................................ 53 8. Repeated Measures ANOVA Summary Table on the Child Domain of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) for the Preoperational and Concrete Operations Development Treatment Groups and Total Children ........................................ 54 9. Mean Scores of the Preoperational Development Treatment Group on the Parent Domain of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI)..................................................... 55 10. Repeated Measures ANOVA Summary Table on the Parent Domain of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) for the Preoperational Development Treatment Group ............................................................................................................... 55 11. Mean Scores of the Concrete Operations Development Treatment Group on the Parent Domain of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) ......................................... 57 12. Repeated Measures ANOVA Summary Table on the Parent Domain of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) for the Concrete Operations Development Treatment Group .............................................................................................. 57 13. Mean Scores for the Preoperational and Concrete Operations Development Treatment Groups and Total Children on the Parent Domain of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) ............................................................................................ 59 vi 14. Repeated