Comparing the Effectiveness of Art and Sand-play in Reducing PTSD Among Refugee Children

Due to the political state of Syria, Jordan is experiencing a major increase in the number of Syrians seeking asylum each year, a quarter of which are children. The stressors these refugees are exposed to are described in three stages: (1) while in their country of origin; (2) during their escape to safety; and (3) when having to settle in a country of refuge. The available literature shows consistently increased levels of psychological morbidity among refugee children, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is argued that mental health clinics could use creative art therapies as a means of reaching out to war refugees in their communities who may not respond to traditional therapy. The difference in effectiveness between art and sand-play therapy, two models of nonverbal psychosocial therapy, on Syrian refugee children with PTSD, will be evaluated using a pretest-posttest control group design with 90 preadolescents (ages 6-12) exhibiting PTSD. Children will be randomized into two experimental groups (n = 30 for each) to receive sandplay or art therapy for 12 weeks, while the control group (n = 30) will receive no formal treatment. The effectiveness of each form of therapy will be determined using a questionnaire and then compared within and between group(s). Further statistical analysis will be used to determine which therapy was more effective in mitigating PTSD.