지적발달장애아동은 일상생활의 제한으로 일반아동에 비하여 표현의 기회가 많지 않으며, 자기표현에도 한계가 있다. 표현력 부족으로 사회적응에 상당히 곤란을 겪는 경우가 많으며 그러한 경험의 축적은 지적발달장애아동의 자신감을 상실하게 하여 더 큰 문제를 초래하는 원인이 되기도 한다. 음악과 함께 다양한 표현활동으로 이루어지는 동작요법 프로그램은 그러한 결함을 가지고 있는 지적발달장애아동들에게 신체적 건강은 물론 심리적, 정서적으로 안정감, 자신감을 갖게 해주며, 내재되어 있는 감정 표출에 의해 스트레스를 해소하고 더 나아가 일상생활능력 및 사회적응에 도움을 줄 수 있는 효과적인 신체활동 학습의 한 방법이라 할 수 있다. 대부분의 동작요법프로그램에 관한 선행 논문은 사회적응 향상, 비만, 문제행동의 완화 등에 관한 것이며 일상생활의 필수 요소라 할 수 있는 표현력에 관한 논문은 거의 전무한 실정이다. 따라서 본 논문은 동작요법프로그램의 적용이 지적발달장애아동의 표현력 향상에 어떠한 영향을 미치는가를 규명하고자 하는데 그 의의가 있다. 연구 방법은 경도지적발달장애아들의 수준과 특성에 맞게 구성한 동작요법 프로그램을 주 2회 40분씩 20주간 적용하여 표현력(정서표현, 동작표현, 언어표현)에 미치는 영향을 분석 하였다. 그 결과 동작요법프로그램은 정서표현(감정표현, 의식표현), 동작표현(감정동작, 의식동작), 언어표현(수용언어, 표현언어)에 유의한 효과가 있다는 결론을 도출하였다. 그러나 이 연구의 결과는 적용기간이 단기간 이였고 연구대상을 경도지적발달장애아로 제한하였다. 향후 후속연구에서는 보다 장기적인 동작요법 적용기간과 연구대상의 확대 그리고 좀 더 다양하고 체계적인 신체활동프로그램에 의한 연구가 지속적으로 이루어져서 지적발달장애아들의 사회생활에 필수요소라 할 수 있는 표현력의 향상은 물론 성취감과 자신감, 나아가 삶의 의지를 심어줄 수 있게 되기를 기대한다.
This research was conducted to see how the dancing medical therapy program will affect the self expression abilities (emotional, physical and language expression) of children with mild learning obstruction. Through 20 weeks of applying the dancing medical therapy, the results are as stated below. Firstly, the dance therapy program has proven to have a meaningful effect regarding expression of emotion (sentiments, expression of consciousness) (p<.01). In the case of expression of sentiments, the average result of the check up taken before was 3.98, whereas the result after the program was an average of 2.19. The previous result was stated higher and indicates that statistically there was a meaningful effect (p<.01). Secondly, the dance therapy program has proven to have a meaningful effect regarding physical expression (emotional action, conscious action) (p<.01). In the case of emotional expression, the average result of the test taken before was 1.94, whereas the result after the program was an average of 3.94. After the application of the program there has been an increase in about 2.0, indicating that statistically there was a difference (p<.01). However in the case of conscious expression, there has been an increase of 1.56 (previous check up was average 2.41 and after check up was 3.97) and statistically it has not proven that it has a meaningful effect. Thirdly, the dance therapy program has proven to have a meaningful effect regarding language expression (acceptance language, expression language) (p<.05).In the case of acceptance language, the average result of the check up taken before was 2.13, whereas the result after the program was an average of 3.80. The later result was stated higher and indicates that statistically there was a meaningful effect (p<.05). In the case of expression language, the average result of the check up taken before was 1.72, whereas the result after the program was an average of 2.98. The increase of 1.26 indicates that statistically there was a meaningful effect (p<.05). As stated above, the dance therapy program has been proven effective towards the self expression abilities (emotional, physical and language expression) of children with mild learning obstructions. However, it should be noted that this research was conducted for a brief period of time and the subjects were limited to children with mild symptoms of learning obstruction. Researches that are to be conducted in the future will need to prolong the period of time applying the dancing therapy, engage in a more variety of test subjects and develope more diverse as well as organized verification system. Also, if diverse and organized physical active programs that can invoke interest are provided continuously, it will be helpful for children with mild learning obstruction to be more successful in expressing themselves, which is indeed a very important part of social life, as well as gaining a sense of accomplishment and confidence which can lead to a stronger will towards life. Therefore, I hope that an educational system that advocates teachers who are capable of applying dance therapy in the educational field will emerge. Furthermore, I look forward to the construction of a more comprehensive system that can allow art therapists, educationists, doctors and social welfare workers to participate.