The effects of group art therapy on adolescents’ self‐concept and peer relationship: A mixed‐method study

Abstract

This study examined the effects of group art therapy on self-concept and peer relationships among adolescents using a mixed-method approach. Twelve recruited adolescents from a high school in Northern Taiwan attended weekly 2-h group art therapy sessions for 8 weeks. Through a discoveryoriented approach incorporating focus group interviews and individual interviews, qualitative results revealed that the participants started getting to know themselves better and were able to explore their inner selves while noticing their own emotions. Their self-concept also became more positive along with reduced negative self-concept, increased positive self-concept, and clearer visions towards future goals. Furthermore, the therapy modified adolescents' negative peer relationships by reducing their social anxiety and adjusting their complicated experiences. Participants were found to experience trustable, allied, and compassionate positive peer relationships while having reduced loneliness and improved social skills at the same time. Besides, the participants answered self-concept and peer relationship scales at pre-and post-interventions as well as a 12-month follow-up thereafter. Friedman test on the longitudinal data showed participants reporting consistently higher self-concept and peer relationship at post-intervention and 12month follow-up than at the pre-intervention stage.

The Relationship Between Self-Concept and Anxiety In Facing The Future on Narcotics Prisoners In Class II a Drawing Institutions, Muara Beliti

“…However, other statements have been declared valid and have fulfilled the requirements to be used as research measuring tools (Sudiardhita, Mukhtar, Hartono, Sariwulan, & Nikensari, 2018). Researchers conducted a second validity test by eliminating invalid items, both on the self-concept scale, and on the anxiety scale in facing the future (Huang, Su, Cheng, & Tan, 2021). This was done with the aim of ascertaining whether the scale used in the study was truly valid or not (Knekta, Runyon, & Eddy, 2019).…”

Reducing anxiety and improving self-acceptance in children and adolescents with osteosarcoma through group drawing art therapy

“…Studies have shown that cancer patients generally have a low level of self-acceptance ( Li et al, 2010 ). Self-acceptance means that an individual can objectively accept and view himself, establish self-value based on self-recognition, respect and appreciate himself ( Huang et al, 2021 ; Kelemen and Shamri-Zeevi, 2022 ). Adolescent cancer patients are more likely to doubt their own worth and lower their level of self-acceptance ( Lewandowska et al, 2021 ).…”

“…The results of this study are consistent with previous findings; that is, providing psychological intervention support to cancer patients can significantly improve their level of self-acceptance ( Bozcuk et al, 2017 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ). The process of drawing can correct discordant cognition through abstract image thinking and imagination to promote and improve the painter’s cognitive function and the degree of self-acceptance ( Huang et al, 2021 ). This study guides patients to think about how to get along with the disease, stabilize their inner state, explore their personality traits, accept life imperfections, improve self-esteem, and realize self-appreciation and self-acceptance through drawing themed activities such as “What I want to do most,” “Make friends with the disease,” and “Future me.”…”

“…Anxiety disorders are characterized by symptoms of anxiety, fear, nervousness, and worry, as well as physical symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and muscle tension ( Birmaher et al, 1997 ; Lewandowska et al, 2021 ). Self-acceptance means that an individual can objectively accept and view himself, establish self-value based on self-recognition, respect and appreciate himself ( Huang et al, 2021 ; Kelemen and Shamri-Zeevi, 2022 ). People with low self-acceptance develop psychological and behavioral problems such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal.…”

Editorial—Directions 2021

“…Their findings suggested that students labeled as gifted report lower level of peer connectedness, a factor that strongly contributes to school life satisfaction in this sample. Huang et al (2021), examined the effects of group art therapy on self-concept and peer relationships among adolescents using a mixedmethod approach and found that such activity supports adolescents' self-concept and peer relationships. Martins et al (2021) interviewed a large sample of Portuguese children from first to fourth grade and found a developmental trend in the concept of lying, which was associated with other moral reasoning dimensions: children could define lying accurately and considered it to be inappropriate, but many admitted to lie if a close adult requested it.…”