The Effect of Therapeutic Play on Eating Behaviors in Primary School Children

NCT07817485 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 790-790-11
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 116
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Primary health care is a comprehensive, community-based approach that aims to maximize health, well-being, and their equitable distribution through three main components (WHO, 2025). Its key components, identified at the Alma-Ata Conference, include health education; environmental sanitation, particularly food and water; maternal and child health programs, including immunization and family planning; prevention of endemic diseases; appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries; provision of essential medicines; promotion of healthy nutrition; and mental health promotion (Eren, 1982). It is anticipated that a study aimed at fostering healthy eating habits in children through the use of therapeutic play methods will raise family awareness, facilitate the delivery of effective health education to children, highlight the role of nurses in safeguarding child health, and ultimately improve public health. This study was conducted to determine the effect of the therapeutic play method-applied within the scope of primary health care services in schools-on children's emotional eating behaviors and to foster their belief in their ability to make healthy food choices. Research Hypotheses H1: The mean total scores on the dietary behaviour scale for children in the intervention group are higher than those in the control group. H2: The mean total scores on the emotional eating scale for children in the intervention group are higher than those in the control group. H3: There is a significant relationship between the dietary behaviour scale and the emotional eating scale for children. Variables of the Study Independent variables The independent variables of the study are the children's socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender). On the first day, the children were asked to complete the 'Child and Family Information Form', the 'Eating Behaviour Scale' and the Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents. A three-week program will be administered to the intervention group by the researchers. A 3-week gamified healthy eating program was implemented for children in the intervention group. In the first week, children used green and red cards to identify whether nutrition-related statements were true or false, followed by explanations of the correct information by the researcher. In the second week, a "Nutrition Heroes" game was conducted. Children matched foods with related nutrients, such as fish with omega-3 and protein, and participated in a group puzzle competition to identify healthy foods. In the third week, activities focused on emotional eating awareness. Children watched a video about emotions, discussed their feelings, and participated interactively in a story about emotional eating. These activities aimed to improve children's healthy eating knowledge and awareness of the relationship between emotions and eating behavior.

Conditions

Child Nutrition; Feeding Behavior; Emotional Eating

Keywords

Healthy Eating; Nutrition Education; Emotional Eating; School-Aged Children; Gamification

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Child Food Behaviour Scale (FBS) score

  Evaluates children's food consumption habits using a 14-item pictorial scale. Each item compares healthy (+1) and unhealthy (-1) food options. The total score ranges from -14 to +14, with higher scores indicating healthier eating habits.

  Change from baseline at 3 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents (EES-C) score

  Change from baseline at 3 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Experimental

EXPERIMENTAL

The group that followed a three-week healthy eating programme

Behavioral: HEALTHY EATING GAME

No Intervention

NO INTERVENTION

The control group will not take part in the healthy eating game. Once the study has been completed, they will receive one week of healthy eating education.

Interventions

HEALTHY EATING GAME BEHAVIORAL

A gamified educational programme focusing on healthy eating and emotional eating behaviours was delivered to the intervention group over a three-week period. The programme consisted of: in Week 1, true-false nutrition cards; in Week 2, food-vitamin/mineral matching exercises and a healthy eating puzzle; and in Week 3, an emotional awareness video and interactive storytelling activities on the topic of emotional eating.

Experimental

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 9 Years - 11 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Able to read and write in Turkish
• Pupils in Years 3 and 4 of primary school
• Children and their families who agree to take part in the study,
• Those who do not see a dietitian

You may not qualify if:

• Having a diagnosed psychological condition
• Withdrawal Criteria
• Those unable to participate fully in the programme
• Those who do not complete the questionnaires

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Gazi University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sincan Alparslan Primary School

Ankara, 06930, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Mogre V, Sefogah PE, Adetunji AW, Olalekan OO, Gaa PK, Ayettey Anie HNG, Tayo B. A school-based food and nutrition education intervention increases nutrition-related knowledge and fruit consumption among primary school children in northern Ghana. BMC Public Health. 2024 Jun 29;24(1):1739. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19200-7.

  PMID: 38951824 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Related Info

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Feeding Behavior; Emotional Eating

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior, Animal; Behavior

Study Officials

• Ebru b KILIÇARSLAN, Professor

  Gazi University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Özge z Köksal, Research Assistant

  Gazi University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: RESEARCH ASSİSTANT

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 4, 2026
• First Posted: September 14, 2026
• Study Start: January 20, 2026
• Primary Completion: June 16, 2026
• Study Completion: June 20, 2026
• Last Updated: September 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)