The Effects of Play-based Reality Therapy Program with Parent Education on Reduced Risk of Smartphone Addiction in Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of play-based reality therapy program on children's self-control, mother-child relationship, and the risk of smartphone addiction. Methods: The subjects of this study were 18 mother-child pairs who complained of difficulty in their relationship. Subjects were sampled from children found to have a potential risk of smartphone addiction, as assessed by the smartphone addiction proneness scale, and were divided into an experimental group (N = 8) and a control group (N = 8). The play-based reality therapy program was applied to the children for a total of 16 sessions, twice a week, 50 minutes per session, and parent education was applied to the mothers for a total of 8 sessions, once a week, 90 minutes per session. Results: First, play-based reality therapy program with parent education had a positive effect on the children's self-control. Second, play-based reality therapy program with parent education caused positive changes in the subjects' mother-child relationship. Finally, play-based reality therapy program with parent education positively improved the use of smartphone in the children with a risk of smartphone addiction. Conclusion: This study designed a play-based reality therapy program with parent education and proved that the program had positive effects for children with a risk of smartphone addiction and their mothers. Further, by executing parent education for the mothers of children with a risk of smartphone addiction, this study is meaningful in sustaining the therapeutic effect observed in children and in preventing smartphone addiction.