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

Abstract

Objectives: this study examined the intervention effects of group sandplay therapy (GST) on children at risk of smartphone addiction. Methods: 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. Results: compared to the control group, the intervention group that received GST showed a significant reduction in smartphone addiction (F = 7.355, p = 0.020), withdrawal/depression (F = 5.540, p = 0.032), and somatic symptoms (F = 4.542, p = 0.040) compared to the control group. Conclusions: GST was found to be effective in reducing smartphone addiction, depression, and somatic symptoms in children at risk for smartphone addiction.