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Ethics code: IR.IAU.SARI.REC.1400.083
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Shahbazi I, Emadian S O. (2026). Comparative Effectiveness of Floortime Play Therapy and Sunrise Program on Communication Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorde. Journal of Childhood Health and Education. 7(1), doi:10.32598/JECHE.7.1.390.1
URL: http://jeche.ir/article-1-357-en.html
URL: http://jeche.ir/article-1-357-en.html
1- Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Sari Branch, Sari, Iran
2- Department of Psychology, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
2- Department of Psychology, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
Abstract: (3 Views)
Background and Aim: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is recognized as a major challenge in the development and enhancement of children's communication skills. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two play-therapy methods, Floortime and the Sunrise program, on improving the communication skills of children with this disorder.
Research Methods: The study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and was conducted in 2020 in the city of Sari. The sample comprised 45 children with ASD who were selected using convenience sampling and assigned equally to three groups: a control group, a Floortime experimental group, and a Sunrise experimental group (15 participants each). Therapeutic interventions were delivered at the Nik-Andishan Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, and data were collected using the standardized GARS-2 questionnaire. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to analyze the data and examine differences between pretest and posttest scores.
Results: The results showed that both Floortime and the Sunrise program had a positive and significant effect on improving the communication skills of children with ASD, and a significant difference was observed in the effectiveness of the two methods. In other words, both interventions were superior to the control group, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two therapeutic methods, indicating variation in their degrees of effectiveness.
Discussion: These results suggest that both methods can be employed as effective interventions in communication rehabilitation programs for children with ASD. The present study faced limitations such as a relatively small sample size and the use of convenience sampling, which limit the generalizability of the findings. It is recommended that future research use larger samples and random sampling methods and examine varied durations and intensities of the interventions to determine the long-term effects of both methods. Conducting multi-center and combined studies is also recommended.
Research Methods: The study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and was conducted in 2020 in the city of Sari. The sample comprised 45 children with ASD who were selected using convenience sampling and assigned equally to three groups: a control group, a Floortime experimental group, and a Sunrise experimental group (15 participants each). Therapeutic interventions were delivered at the Nik-Andishan Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, and data were collected using the standardized GARS-2 questionnaire. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to analyze the data and examine differences between pretest and posttest scores.
Results: The results showed that both Floortime and the Sunrise program had a positive and significant effect on improving the communication skills of children with ASD, and a significant difference was observed in the effectiveness of the two methods. In other words, both interventions were superior to the control group, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two therapeutic methods, indicating variation in their degrees of effectiveness.
Discussion: These results suggest that both methods can be employed as effective interventions in communication rehabilitation programs for children with ASD. The present study faced limitations such as a relatively small sample size and the use of convenience sampling, which limit the generalizability of the findings. It is recommended that future research use larger samples and random sampling methods and examine varied durations and intensities of the interventions to determine the long-term effects of both methods. Conducting multi-center and combined studies is also recommended.
Keywords: Floortime play therapy, Sun-rise Program, Communication skills, Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/07/18 | Accepted: 2026/03/21 | Published: 2026/03/21
Received: 2025/07/18 | Accepted: 2026/03/21 | Published: 2026/03/21
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