A Comparison of the Positive Effects of Structured and Nonstructured Art Activities. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cross, Gemma; Brown, Patricia M.
• Is Part Of: Art therapy. Volume 36:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 22
• Page End: 29
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: Art therapy -- Periodicals; Art Therapy -- Periodicals; 615.85156
• DOI: 10.1080/07421656.2019.1564642
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0742-1656

Abstract

Abstract: This study compared the effects of 2 art activities (structured and nonstructured) and a focused breathing exercise on outcome measures of mindfulness, anxiety, and affect. Seventy-seven participants, recruited from university students and the general public, were randomly assigned to either 15 min of coloring a mandala (structured), free drawing (nonstructured), or a focused breathing exercise. Results demonstrated that all 3 interventions produced significant improvements in the outcome measures at posttest compared with pretest. However, no significant differences were found across the 3 intervention conditions. These findings inform the design of brief interventions aimed at achieving short-term positive psychological benefits in nonclinical populations.