Effectiveness of social skills education and sandplay therapy for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and comorbid anxiety

Table 1 Comparison of general data between the two groups, n (%)/mean ± SD

Variable	Category	Observation group (n = 26)	Control group (n = 26)	Statistical value	P value
Age/years		9.23 ± 1.51	9.46 ± 1.56	0.544	0.589
Gender	Male	14 (53.85)	13 (50.00)	0.077	0.781
	Female	12 (46.15)	13 (50.00)
Course of disease		2.50 ± 1.21	2.30 ± 0.90	-0.689	0.494

Table 2 Comparison of Parent Symptom Questionnaire scores before and after intervention in the two groups, mean ± SD

Group	Observation time	Hyperactivity index	Anxiety	Character issues
Observation group	Before intervention	1.24 ± 0.18	1.49 ± 0.34	1.28 ± 0.37
	After intervention	0.91 ± 0.16a	1.02 ± 0.15a	0.92 ± 0.35a
Control group	Before intervention	1.23 ± 0.19	1.42 ± 0.33	1.25 ± 0.27
	After intervention	1.06 ± 0.17	1.26 ± 0.22	1.17 ± 0.15

^aP < 0.05, t ≥ 2.009 or F ≥ 4.029, compared with the control group.

Table 3 Swanson Nolan and Pelham-IV scores before and after intervention in the two groups, mean ± SD

Group	Lack of concentration		Hyperactivity and impulsivity		Opposition and defiance
	Before intervention	After intervention	Before intervention	After intervention	Before intervention	After intervention
Observation group	2.43 ± 0.42	1.48 ± 0.36	2.24 ± 0.45	1.27 ± 0.38	2.35 ± 0.51	1.36 ± 0.31
Control group	2.42 ± 0.45	1.82 ± 0.45	2.17 ± 0.57	1.49 ± 0.41	2.38 ± 0.45	1.84 ± 0.43
Statistical value	-0.096	9.150	-0.484	4.611	0.261	20.805
P value	0.924	0.004	0.630	0.037	0.795	< 0.001

Table 4 Comparison of Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders scores before and after intervention in the two groups, mean ± SD

Group	Social Anxiety Scale for Children score		Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders rating
	Before intervention	After intervention	Before intervention	After intervention
Observation group	14.19 ± 2.89	8.50 ± 0.71	26.31 ± 3.30	14.65 ± 2.28
Control group	14.65 ± 3.10	11.15 ± 0.97	25.38 ± 3.16	20.42 ± 3.77
Statistical value	0.556	126.580	-1.030	42.129
P value	0.581	< 0.001	0.308	< 0.001

Table 5 Comparison of Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale scores before and after intervention in the two groups, mean ± SD

Group	Observation time	Behavior	Intelligence and school situation	Physical appearance and attributes	Anxiety
Observation group	Before intervention	8.13 ± 1.37	7.44 ± 0.98	5.69 ± 1.24	6.84 ± 1.63
	After intervention	10.07 ± 1.96	8.12 ± 1.13	6.89 ± 1.57a	8.07 ± 1.85a
Control group	Before intervention	8.24 ± 1.67	7.69 ± 1.26	5.53 ± 0.96	7.04 ± 1.24
	After intervention	9.27 ± 1.57	7.94 ± 0.83	6.07 ± 1.03	7.12 ± 1.38

^aP < 0.05, t ≥ 2.009 or F ≥ 4.029, compared with the control group.

Table 6 Comparison of digit cancellation test results before and after intervention in the two groups, mean ± SD

Group	Number of correct entries		Number of incorrect entries		Number of missed entries
	Before intervention	After intervention	Before intervention	After intervention	Before intervention	After intervention
Observation group	38.46 ± 4.50	56.31 ± 5.40	1.62 ± 0.50	0.50 ± 0.65	18.27 ± 3.52	9.19 ± 1.60
Control group	39.62 ± 5.12	50.12 ± 4.89	1.46 ± 0.51	0.92 ± 0.27	18.19 ± 3.61	11.46 ± 2.14
Statistical value	0.863	18.162	-1.104	8.976	-0.078	18.493
P value	0.392	< 0.001	0.275	0.004	0.938	< 0.001

Table 7 Comparison of parental satisfaction between the two groups, n (%)

Group	Very satisfied	Basically satisfied	Dissatisfied
Observation group	17 (65.38)	8 (30.77)	1 (3.85)
control group	8 (30.77)	14 (53.85)	4 (15.38)
χ2 value			6.446
P value			0.037