| Across the United States, millions of children suffer from chronic physical diseases. A disease with increasingly prevalent diagnosis rates in children in children is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). IBD has significant impacts on a child's development, social functioning, psychological functioning, academics, and family. Although the literature on the impact of IBD in childhood is extensive, there are currently limited psychological interventions in place to help children between the ages of ten and twelve cope and adjust to IBD. Research has suggested that play interventions can be helpful for children suffering from chronic illnesses (Landreth, 2001). In addition, a group format for treatment has been found to be beneficial for children with chronic medical conditions because of the social component and opportunity to share experiences with similar peers. A play-based group intervention program is thus proposed for children with IBD in order to promote healthy adjustment and coping to the illness. |
