The Effectiveness of Child-Centered Play Therapy on Hope and Resilience in Children with Cancer

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction and Objective: Cancer diagnosis severely affects children’s emotional well-being, often reducing their hope and resilience. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) on hope and resilience in children with cancer.
Research Methodology: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of children aged 5 to 8 years diagnosed with cancer who were referred to Hazrat Ali Asghar Children’s Hospital in Tehran in 2024. Using convenience sampling, 30 children were selected and randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 15) and control group (n = 15). The mean age of participants was 7.43 years (SD = 1.12), including 16 boys (53.3%) and 14 girls (46.7%). The experimental group received twelve 45-minute sessions of CCPT, while the control group received no intervention. Research instruments included Snyder’s Children’s Hope Scale and the Social-Emotional Assets and Resilience Scale (SEARS). Data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA).
Findings: The results indicated that CCPT significantly increased levels of hope (F = 22.43, p < 0.001, η² = 0.46) and resilience (F = 12.45, p < 0.001, η² = 0.32) in children with cancer. The intervention had a stronger effect on hope than on resilience.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that CCPT is an effective, non-invasive, and developmentally appropriate intervention for enhancing hope and resilience in children with cancer. By providing a safe environment for emotional expression, fostering mastery, and promoting positive fantasies, CCPT helps children cope adaptively with the challenges of illness and improves their psychological well-being.

Keywords

Clinical Psychology Studies
Volume 17, Issue 62
March 2026
Pages 1-9

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics