Impact of child-centered play therapy on the self-esteem, locus of control, and anxiety of at-risk 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students.

Addresses the impact of child-centered play therapy on the self-esteem, locus of control, and anxiety level of at-risk 4th, 5th, and 6th grade children. The two groups of students, those who participated in play therapy and those who did not participate in play therapy, were administered the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Scale—Revised, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. While the results indicate that children participating in play therapy did not change, the students not participating in play therapy demonstrated a decrease in both self-esteem and locus of control over the course of the school year. These findings indicate that an intervention, such as play therapy, may be needed to prevent at-risk children from developing lower self esteem and from reducing their sense of responsibility for their academic successes and failures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)