The effectiveness of puppet play therapy on reducing shyness, loneliness and behavioral problems in single-parent children

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of puppet play therapy in reducing shyness and loneliness and improving the behavioral problems of single-parent children in Ahvaz. The method of this quasi-experimental study was pre-test, post-test, and follow-up with a control group. The statistical population of this study included all single-parent children aged 3 to 9 years in Ahvaz in 1399. Among them, 30 people were selected by purposive sampling and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The Stanford Shyness (SSQ)(1997), Russell Loneliness (UCLA) (1980), and Shahim and Yousefi (BPQPC)(1999) Behavioral Problems questionnaires were used to collect data. Then 10 sessions of 45 minutes and two sessions of puppet play therapy were performed on the experimental group every week. While the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were analyzed by Repeated Measures ANOVA (RM ANOVA) using SPSS 24 software. The results showed that there was a significant difference between shyness, loneliness, and behavioral problems in the experimental group compared to the control group (P ≥ 0.05). The results continued after a month and a half of follow-up. On this basis we can say; Puppet play is effective in reducing shyness, loneliness, and improving the behavioral problems of single-parent children.