Effect of Psychomotricity Program on Anxiety, Withdrawal and Problem Behavior of Children with Asperger Disorder

Background/Objectives: To investigate the effect of applying the psychomotor program on the anxiety, withdrawal and problem behaviors of children with Asperger disorder, which helps improving their confidence by motion activity. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Psychomotricity program was conducted for 50 minutes per session, three sessions a week during 12 weeks against the subjects, two children with Asperger disorder. BAB design was used to analyze the effect of psychomotricity on problem behaviors of the children with Asperger disorder. Problem behaviors were measured for 10 minutes after every 50 minute class using an interval recording method. To confirm the effect on anxiety were conducted using Child Behavior Check List (CBCL) 6-18. Findings: The average occurrence frequency of target behavior of child A, which was more than 9 times lower than the average and target behavior of child B, which was more than 11 times lower than the average. As a result of this study, frequency of problem behaviors of the children with Asperger disorder was decreased during the arbitration and this decrement was maintained until the follow up observation. Also, anxiety problem in pre-observation of the child A was 80 and that of the child B was 90. In the post-observation T score of anxiety problem of the child A was 60 and that of the child B was 69. The anxiety level on post-observation was lower than that on pre-observation. Application/Improvements: We suggest that psychomotricity is effective in reducing the aggression behavior and withdrawal frequency of children with Asperger disorder and in maintaining the lowered level.