Date of Award

8-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Clinical/Counseling Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Reader/Committee Chair

Christina Hassija

Abstract

Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are group-based games which involve character creation and collaborative storytelling in an imagined setting, allowing participants to engage in problem-solving, creativity, and social interaction. While TTRPGs have recently been gaining traction, few have assessed the tandem of benefits that participants may gain simultaneously. This study examined the range of benefits for youth involved in therapeutically applied role-playing games (TARPGs), a novel intervention combining therapeutic concepts with TTRPGs. Participants were recruited from a nonprofit organization offering TARPG skill groups. A Qualtrics survey was used to assess participants' perceived gains from involvement. It was hypothesized that youth and young adult participants in a six-week TARPG group would report high satisfaction means in domains of confidence, self-esteem, self-expression, quality of life, empathy, feelings of support, and ability to talk and connect with peers. Results from the study indicate average perceived benefits between the two highest (1-2) answer options occurred in all domains except quality of life and self-expression, with these categories still demonstrating positive outcomes. Notably, benefits were still more pronounced in these domains among LGBQ+ and gender nonconforming participants. Qualitative feedback from participants helped to support the rationale for these benefits and provided insight for areas of further improvement.

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