Psychological ResilienceNCT07886528
The Effect of Structured Therapeutic Play Program on Aggression, Social Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience in Preschool Children
A study testing Structured Play Activity in Preschool Children in people with Psychological Resilience, run by Cumhuriyet University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The aim of this study was to reduce the aggression levels of preschool children and to improve their social emotional well-being and psychological resilience through a structured therapeutic play program. The study was conducted as a randomised experimental research with pretest-posttest control group. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 3 to 6 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Psychological Resilience
- What is being tested?
- Structured Play Activity in Preschool Children
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 68 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 20 Oct 2023to 30 May 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 3 to 6 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- -Being in the 4-6 age group.
Who cannot join
- Presence of chronic illness or communication problems in the child or parent
- Failure to attend at least two sessions of the structured therapeutic play program
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The aim of this study was to reduce the aggression levels of preschool children and to improve their social emotional well-being and psychological resilience through a structured therapeutic play program. The study was conducted as a randomised experimental research with pretest-posttest control group. The total sample consisted of 68 children, 34 in the intervention group and 34 in the control group. Data were collected with an information form, the Aggression Orientation Scale for Children and the Social Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children. The intervention group participated in seven structured therapeutic play program group sessions.
Read the detailed description
The structured therapeutic play program consisted of seven sessions delivered over seven consecutive weeks, with one session per week. The intervention incorporated emotion expression activities, drawing, free play, symbolic play, creative activities, and music-based rhythmic games. The sessions were designed to facilitate emotional expression, support social-emotional well-being, promote psychological resilience, and reduce aggressive behaviors in preschool children.
Session 1 - Emotion Expression Game:Children used emotion cards to describe situations in which they experienced anger toward their parents. The session aimed to establish a therapeutic relationship, facilitate emotion recognition, and encourage emotional expression.
Session 2 - Drawing Activity: Children created drawings of their choice with the researcher and described their drawings. The researcher used a mirroring technique to facilitate emotional awareness and expression.
Session 3 - Child-Directed Free Play: Children brought their favorite toys and selected their preferred play activities. The session aimed to support children's autonomy and sense of being valued.
Session 4 - Baby Care Game: Children participated in a symbolic play activity involving caring for a baby doll. The activity provided opportunities to explore caregiving behaviors, self-care experiences, and perceptions of parental interactions.
Session 5 - Paper Shape-Making Activity: Children created paper shapes with guidance from the researcher. The session aimed to support creativity and psychological resilience.
Session 6 - Music and Rhythmic Play: Children participated in rhythmic games accompanied by music. The activity aimed to support psychological well-being and emotional regulation.
Session 7 - Emotion Expression and Coping Strategies: Children used emotion cards to describe their responses to anger-provoking situations involving their parents and to explore alternative ways of expressing their emotions. The session aimed to encourage appropriate emotional expression and constructive coping strategies.
- Conditions
- Psychological Resilience
- Being tested
- Structured Play Activity in Preschool Children
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Structured Play Activity in Preschool ChildrenBehavioural
2.1.Study Design: The study is a randomised experimental quantitative study with a pre-test-post-test control group.
2.2.Participants and settings This study was conducted in a kindergarten selected by lottery among the kindergartens in a province in the east of Turkey. The study population consisted of a total of 202 children enrolled in the kindergarten. The sample size was calculated in G*Power 3.1.9.2 analysis program (Faul et al., 2007). Since there were no studies on these variables on the subject, taking into account the effect size of 0.80 in Cohen's effect size classification (Keskin 2020), the sample of the study was determined as a total of 68 children, 34 intervention group and 34 control group, with 90% power and 5% margin of error.
2.3.Randomization In order to reduce selection bias and control variables that may have an effect on the outcome variables, the experimental and control groups were assigned by a statistician other than the researchers by simple randomisation
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Structured Play Activity in Preschool Children | Experimental | The average time to complete the questionnaires was 20-25 minutes. In the pre-test, the parents of the children completed the Personal Information Form and the Aggression Orientation Scale for Children Aged 36-72 Months, while the teachers completed the Social-Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children. Since the children involved in the study were from three different classrooms, the scales were administered by three different teachers.
The post-test data for the intervention and control groups were collected by the researcher in a suitable classroom at the preschool one month after the completion of the program. In the post-test, the parents of the children completed the Aggression Orientation Scale for Children Aged 36-72 Months, while the teachers completed the Social-Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children. Receives: Behavioral: Structured Play Activity in Preschool Children |
| no intervention | No intervention | no intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Aggression Tendency Scale for 36-72-Month-Old Children Total Score
Aggressive behavior was assessed using the parent-rated Aggression Tendency Scale for 36-72-Month-Old Children, developed by Kaynak et al. (2016). The scale contains 27 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale and assesses physical aggression toward others, relational aggression toward others, aggression toward self, and aggression toward objects. The total score is calculated by summing the item scores. Higher scores indicate greater aggression. The outcome is the change in the total score from baseline to follow-up.
Measured: Baseline (before intervention) and follow-up (one month after completion of the 7-week intervention; approximately Week 11)
Change in Social Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children (PERIK) Total Score
Social-emotional well-being and psychological resilience were assessed using the teacher-rated Social Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children (PERIK), adapted into Turkish by Ozbey (2019). The scale consists of 36 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale and includes six subscales. The total score is calculated by summing the item scores. The outcome is the change in the PERIK total score from baseline to follow-up.
Measured: Baseline (before intervention) and follow-up (one month after completion of the 7-week intervention; approximately Week 11)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Oct 2026
- Study start20 Oct 2023
- Primary completion30 May 2024
- Study completion30 May 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Psychological ResilienceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cumhuriyet University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Zeynep Temel Mert, Cumhuriyet University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07886528
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023-169
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 21 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes
Publications
Özbey, S. (2019). Validity and Reliability Study of Social Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children (PERIK). OPUS International Journal of Society Researches, 10(17), 756-786. https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.518062
Kaynak, K. B., Kan, A., & Kurtulmuş, Z. (2016). Development of Aggression Tendency Scale for 36-72 Months-Old Children. Turkish Studies, 11(3), 1457-1474. https://doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.9385
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Structured Therapeutic Play Program on Aggression, Social Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience in Preschool Children
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07886528
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2023-169
- Conditions
- Psychological Resilience
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Cumhuriyet UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Oct 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 May 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 May 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of this study was to reduce the aggression levels of preschool children and to improve their social emotional well-being and psychological resilience through a structured therapeutic play program. The study was conducted as a randomised experimental research with pretest-posttest control group. The total sample consisted of 68 children, 34 in the intervention group and 34 in the control group. Data were collected with an information form, the Aggression Orientation Scale for Children and the Social Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children. The intervention group participated in seven structured therapeutic play program group sessions.
Detailed description
The structured therapeutic play program consisted of seven sessions delivered over seven consecutive weeks, with one session per week. The intervention incorporated emotion expression activities, drawing, free play, symbolic play, creative activities, and music-based rhythmic games. The sessions were designed to facilitate emotional expression, support social-emotional well-being, promote psychological resilience, and reduce aggressive behaviors in preschool children.
Session 1 - Emotion Expression Game:Children used emotion cards to describe situations in which they experienced anger toward their parents. The session aimed to establish a therapeutic relationship, facilitate emotion recognition, and encourage emotional expression.
Session 2 - Drawing Activity: Children created drawings of their choice with the researcher and described their drawings. The researcher used a mirroring technique to facilitate emotional awareness and expression.
Session 3 - Child-Directed Free Play: Children brought their favorite toys and selected their preferred play activities. The session aimed to support children's autonomy and sense of being valued.
Session 4 - Baby Care Game: Children participated in a symbolic play activity involving caring for a baby doll. The activity provided opportunities to explore caregiving behaviors, self-care experiences, and perceptions of parental interactions.
Session 5 - Paper Shape-Making Activity: Children created paper shapes with guidance from the researcher. The session aimed to support creativity and psychological resilience.
Session 6 - Music and Rhythmic Play: Children participated in rhythmic games accompanied by music. The activity aimed to support psychological well-being and emotional regulation.
Session 7 - Emotion Expression and Coping Strategies: Children used emotion cards to describe their responses to anger-provoking situations involving their parents and to explore alternative ways of expressing their emotions. The session aimed to encourage appropriate emotional expression and constructive coping strategies.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Structured Play Activity in Preschool Children | Experimental | Behavioral: Structured Play Activity in Preschool ChildrenThe average time to complete the questionnaires was 20-25 minutes. In the pre-test, the parents of the children completed the Personal Information Form and the Aggression Orientation Scale for Children Aged 36-72 Months, while the teachers completed the Social-Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children. Since the children involved in the study were from three different classrooms, the scales were administered by three different teachers. The post-test data for the intervention and control groups were collected by the researcher in a suitable classroom at the preschool one month after the completion of the program. In the post-test, the parents of the children completed the Aggression Orientation Scale for Children Aged 36-72 Months, while the teachers completed the Social-Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children. |
| no intervention | No intervention | –no intervention |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 3 to 6 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- -Being in the 4-6 age group.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Presence of chronic illness or communication problems in the child or parent
- Failure to attend at least two sessions of the structured therapeutic play program
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Structured Play Activity in Preschool Children2.1.Study Design: The study is a randomised experimental quantitative study with a pre-test-post-test control group. 2.2.Participants and settings This study was conducted in a kindergarten selected by lottery among the kindergartens in a province in the east of Turkey. The study population consisted of a total of 202 children enrolled in the kindergarten. The sample size was calculated in G*Power 3.1.9.2 analysis program (Faul et al., 2007). Since there were no studies on these variables on the subject, taking into account the effect size of 0.80 in Cohen's effect size classification (Keskin 2020), the sample of the study was determined as a total of 68 children, 34 intervention group and 34 control group, with 90% power and 5% margin of error. 2.3.Randomization In order to reduce selection bias and control variables that may have an effect on the outcome variables, the experimental and control groups were assigned by a statistician other than the researchers by simple randomisation | Behavioural | Structured Play Activity in Preschool Children |
Primary outcome
Change in Aggression Tendency Scale for 36-72-Month-Old Children Total Score
Time frame: Baseline (before intervention) and follow-up (one month after completion of the 7-week intervention; approximately Week 11)
Aggressive behavior was assessed using the parent-rated Aggression Tendency Scale for 36-72-Month-Old Children, developed by Kaynak et al. (2016). The scale contains 27 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale and assesses physical aggression toward others, relational aggression toward others, aggression toward self, and aggression toward objects. The total score is calculated by summing the item scores. Higher scores indicate greater aggression. The outcome is the change in the total score from baseline to follow-up.
Change in Social Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children (PERIK) Total Score
Time frame: Baseline (before intervention) and follow-up (one month after completion of the 7-week intervention; approximately Week 11)
Social-emotional well-being and psychological resilience were assessed using the teacher-rated Social Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children (PERIK), adapted into Turkish by Ozbey (2019). The scale consists of 36 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale and includes six subscales. The total score is calculated by summing the item scores. The outcome is the change in the PERIK total score from baseline to follow-up.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Oct 2026.
- BackgroundÖzbey, S. (2019). Validity and Reliability Study of Social Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children (PERIK). OPUS International Journal of Society Researches, 10(17), 756-786. https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.518062
- BackgroundKaynak, K. B., Kan, A., & Kurtulmuş, Z. (2016). Development of Aggression Tendency Scale for 36-72 Months-Old Children. Turkish Studies, 11(3), 1457-1474. https://doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.9385
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Structured Play Activity in Preschool Children in people with Psychological Resilience, run by Cumhuriyet University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Aggression Tendency Scale for 36-72-Month-Old Children Total Score (time frame: Baseline (before intervention) and follow-up (one month after completion of the 7-week intervention; approximately Week 11)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07886528, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Oct 2026.