A Field Study Examining the Relationship Between Play Activities and Social Communication in Children with Autism: Insights from Families in Misrata, Libya

Abstract

The current study was based on a primary question: "What is the relationship between play activities and
social communication in children with autism?" The study examined three basic concepts: individual play, symbolic play, and social communication. It also relied on a primary theoretical approach, represented by
symbolic interactionism. The current study is a descriptive analytical study. The methodology used for the
study is a social survey method using a sample. A questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. The
study was applied to families of children with autism. Data was collected using a deliberate sample, with
a sample size of (70) families. The study assumed a statistically significant relationship between play
activities in children with autism and social communication. The study reached several results, including:
1. The existence of a statistically significant relationship between individual play and social
communication.
2. The existence of a statistically significant relationship between symbolic play and social
communication.
3. There were no statistically significant differences in (individual play - symbolic play - social
communication) according to the demographic variables (gender - age group).
4. There were no statistically significant differences in (individual play - social communication) according
to the severity variable. It was found that there were statistically significant differences at a significance
level of α ≤ 0.05 in (level of symbolic play) among autistic children attributed to the severity variable, in
favor of children with a mild disorder.