Play as Antidote: Virtual Parenting to Curb Child Anxiety in Pandemic-era Iran

Introduction: Quarantine, while a critical public health measure for controlling infectious diseases, imposes considerable psychosocial burdens, particularly on young children and their parents. This study investigated the efficacy of a virtual cognitive-behavioral play therapy (CBPT) program in (a) enhancing the quality of parent-child interaction (specifically, increasing closeness and reducing conflict), (b) improving children's awareness and attitudes toward COVID-۱۹, and (c) reducing anxiety symptoms in children aged ۴ to ۶ years during quarantine.Method: Using a convenience sampling method, mothers of children aged ۴–۶ years were recruited via social media announcements and screened for eligibility. A total of ۵۷ eligible participants were assigned to either an intervention group (n = ۲۶) or a waitlist control group (n = ۳۱). The intervention group participated in eight weekly ۹۰-minute virtual CBPT sessions delivered via the Skyroom platform. Outcomes were assessed using the Coronavirus Awareness and Attitude Questionnaire (Elahi, ۲۰۲۰), the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale – Parent Version (Spence, ۱۹۹۷), and the Pianta Parent–Child Relationship Scale (۱۹۹۴). Data were collected at pretest and posttest and analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).Results: Two groups were comparable at baseline (p>.۰۵). MANCOVA showed significant intervention effects on child anxiety (Pillai’s Trace = ۰.۳۴, p=.۰۰۱) and parent–child interaction (Pillai’s Trace = ۰.۲۸, p=.۰۰۲). ANCOVA revealed that the intervention group had significantly lower child anxiety and higher parent–child interaction quality than controls (all p<.۰۵). No significant difference was found for COVID-۱۹ awareness (p=.۰۵۹), but attitudes toward COVID-۱۹ improved significantly (p<.۰۰۱). Sensitivity analyses confirmed robustness.Conclusion: The virtual intervention led to significant reductions in child anxiety and significant improvements in children's attitudes toward COVID-۱۹ and the quality of parent-child interaction (reflected in increased closeness and decreased conflict). However, no significant effect was observed on children's level of COVID-۱۹ awareness.

کلیدواژه ها:

Quarantine ، Play therapy ، parenting