The present study is to examine the effects of a play-based cognitive behavior therapy program for the children who play in excessive internet games. A play-based cognitive behavior therapy program was conducted for five weeks, twice a week, and 80-90 minutes per each program. To examine changes in the children’s self?efficacy, we compared the scores of the self-efficacy test conducted before and after the program, and to examine changes in behaviors related to self-efficacy, we analyzed children’s behaviors observed in free play situation. To examine changes in game addiction behavior, we compared the results of the game addiction diagnosis test conducted before and after the treatment, and monitored changes in the children’s behavior by measuring game playing two or tree or above hours in a week.
The results showed that: First, play-based cognitive behavior therapy program improved self-efficacy in the children addicted to Internet games and, consequently, increased the children’s ’self-confidence’, ’self-control efficacy’ and ’preference of subject difficulty’ behavior. Second, the play-based cognitive behavior therapy program reduced the score of game addiction and game playing two or tree or above hours in the children addicted to internet games. There results suggest that play-based cognitive behavior therapy is effective in improving self-efficacy and decreasing addiction behavior in children addicted to internet games.
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