A Study to Evaluate The Effectiveness of Clay Therapy on Separation Anxiety among Preschoolers in Selected Schools at Coimbatore

Mrs. Melba Sahaya Sweety.D

Volume : X, Issue : VI, June - 2020

A Study to Evaluate The Effectiveness of Clay Therapy on Separation Anxiety among Preschoolers in Selected Schools at Coimbatore

Mrs. Melba Sahaya Sweety. D

Abstract :

Preschool children are the children those who are at the age of 3–6 years (Zapletal, A., & Chalupova, J ,2003). Anxiety disorders are one of the most common disorders seen among preschool children with overall prevalence rate of 8–10%. One in 10 preschool children fond to be experiencing anxiety. In that 9.5% have in the form of separation anxiety, social anxiety, specific fears, and generalized anxiety. Clay therapy provides diversion and gives relaxation, feels more secure in a strange environment, reduces stress and decreases tension (Joseph, A. M., Ambika, K., & Williams, S. 2015). The main objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of clay therapy on separation anxiety among preschoolers in experimental group. A quasi experimental, non–equivalent Pre and Post–test Control group design was chosen for this study without randomization and non–probability purposive sampling technique was used in this study. The sample size was 60 among these 30 samples for Experimental group and 30 samples for Control group from selected school schools at Coimbatore. Paul.W.Clement’s Separation Anxiety questionnaire, was administered to the mothers of preschoolers. Clay Therapy was given as an intervention to Experimental group for 30 minutes per session twice a day for 10 days. The “t” value was 9.8421 it was significant at p< 0.05 level. To conclude the clay therapy is very effective to treat and promote to overcome the separation anxiety among preschoolers.