The art of wellness: A 14-week art therapy program for at-risk youth

摘要

Previous research has indicated a strong need to develop therapies that prevent the development of psychological problems in youth as opposed to treatment after the fact. In the current study, twenty-three female and nineteen male elementary school students with ages ranging from 9 to 12, participated in a single group within-subjects curriculum-based intervention promoting coping skills and resilience. Students engaged in art therapy combined with CBT and DBT modalities. Results indicated significant increases for the total sample in resilience, social and emotional functioning. Results also indicated male students' overall stronger improvement relative to female students. Socio-cultural implications and directions for future research are addressed. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.