The effectiveness of play therapy interventions involving parents on children's anxiety: A systematic literature review

This study aims to conduct a systematic review that meticulously summarizes the empirical evidence provided by studies examining the effectiveness of play therapy interventions involving parents on anxiety problems in children. Using the keywords determined within the scope of the research, four databases were searched: EBSCOHOST, Scopus, Web of Science and Science Direct. Experimental studies, published in English language, peer-reviewed journals between 1990 and 2023, involving play therapy interventions involving children and parents to reduce children's anxiety, and where data were collected with measurement tools, were determined as the inclusion criteria of the study. In the screening, it was decided that 5 empirical studies met the inclusion criteria. It is seen that two different play therapy methods are used in these studies: Filial therapy and Theraplay. In the included studies, the effectiveness of Filial therapy and Theraplay was tested on mothers and children with clinical anxiety problems, children with chronic diseases, speech disorders, social anxiety problems and children who were victims of sexual abuse. In the included studies, Theraplay and Filial therapy were effective on children's general anxiety and social anxiety; However, two studies showed that Filial Therapy was not effective on general anxiety in children. The findings obtained in the current study will increase awareness that involving parents in the process of intervening with anxiety problems in children is functional; It is thought that it will lead to new research that integrates the evidence on the effectiveness of theraplay and Filial Therapy.