Intervention Effects of Group Sandplay Therapy on Children at Risk of Smartphone Addiction: Focusing on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in the Korean Youth Self Report

<b>Objectives</b>: this study examined the intervention effects of group sandplay therapy (GST) on children at risk of smartphone addiction. <b>Methods</b>: The participants consisted of 113 elementary school students in grades 5 and 6 (ages 11-12), with 57 in the intervention group and 56 in the control group. The intervention group participated in the GST program once a week for 40 min over 10 weeks, while the control group received no intervention. The Youth Smartphone Addiction Scale (S-scale) and the Korean Youth Self Report (K-YSR) were used to assess the program. Additionally, a repeated measures ANOVA was employed to examine changes between pre- and post-tests. <b>Results</b>: compared to the control group, the intervention group that received GST showed a significant reduction in smartphone addiction (<i>F</i> = 7.355, <i>p</i> = 0.020), withdrawal/depression (<i>F</i> = 5.540, <i>p</i> = 0.032), and somatic symptoms (<i>F</i> = 4.542, <i>p</i> = 0.040) compared to the control group. <b>Conclusions</b>: GST was found to be effective in reducing smartphone addiction, depression, and somatic symptoms in children at risk for smartphone addiction.