0023-6152

AA00697606

1955669

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of an integrated play therapy program on self–expression, depression, and psychosocial well–being among elderly women who live alone in rural areas. The study was conducted on a group of elderly women, aged 65 and over, who were living alone. Researchers selected one village in the township of A–country, Chungcheongnam–do, South Korea. Data were collected from 24 experimental groups and 24 non–participating control groups. The program was applied to the experimental group for a total of eight weeks (one two–hour session per week). An analysis compared the results of the non–identical control group before and after the program; the effect of the program was measured by assessing participants using a follow–up test, before, immediately after, and ten weeks after the program. The results showed that levels of self–expression increased significantly in the experimental group, from 2.96 before the program, to 3.45 immediately after the program, and 4.13 ten weeks later. Rates of depression decreased significantly in the follow–up tests, measuring 0.85, 0.67, and 0.21 before, after, and ten weeks later. These results show that the play therapy program was effective and had a continuous effect on elderly participants. This study confirms that integrated play therapy is an effective program for developing self–expression and reducing depression among elderly women who live alone in rural areas. Based on these results, this article discusses the impact of the program on self–expression and depression among elderly women who live alone in rural areas; it proposes a policy as a basis for operating and using integrated play therapy to help vulnerable elderly people.