Research Publications on Creative Activity for Mood Health
Exploring the impact of mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) and puzzle solving on mood health reveals promising outcomes. Research indicates these creative activities significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in university students and adults, emphasizing their importance in mental health care strategies. Incorporating mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) and puzzle solving into strategies for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) management could offer relief for common symptoms like mood swings, anxiety, and depression.
Distinguishing difference through determining the mechanistic properties of mindfulness based art therapy; Current Research in Behavioral Sciences, 2023; Link
This study explores the impact of an online program offering art therapy to university students for managing stress and anxiety through self-care techniques. Participants aged 18 to 26 were randomly assigned to either a mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) group, a mindfulness-only group, a neutral clay task (NCT) group, or a control group. The inclusion of NCT and mindfulness-only groups helped to isolate the effects of art materials and mindfulness techniques. Through self-reports and salivary cortisol analysis, the study assessed the interventions' impact on anxiety, stress, and physiological stress markers. Findings indicate that MBAT is as beneficial as other online mental health interventions like CBT and mindfulness in enhancing mental health. The trial showed significant improvements in stress, depression, and sleep quality post-intervention, highlighting the effectiveness of online art-related interventions in proactively addressing the mental health needs of Generation Z college students.
The Effectiveness of Art Therapy for Anxiety in Adult Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial; Frontiers in Psychology, 2019; Link
The study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of anthroposophic art therapy (AT) in reducing anxiety symptoms among adult women diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, or panic disorder. Through a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing AT to a waiting list (WL) condition, the research aimed to assess AT's impact on anxiety severity, quality of life, and emotion regulation. The study involved women aged 18–65 years with moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. Results from both per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses indicated that AT was significantly more effective than WL in reducing anxiety symptoms, enhancing subjective quality of life, and improving emotion regulation, with these effects persisting at a 3-month follow-up. The findings suggest that AT, specifically anthroposophic AT, can be a beneficial treatment option for anxiety, warranting further research on its cost-effectiveness and comparison with active control conditions.
Effectiveness of mindfulness-based art therapy for symptoms of anxiety, depression, and fatigue: A systematic review and meta-analysis; Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2020; Link
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the impact of mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) on individuals with chronic medical conditions, focusing on its effectiveness in reducing psychological (e.g., anxiety, depression) and physical symptoms (e.g., fatigue), thereby enhancing quality of life (QOL). The analysis included 14 studies involving adolescents and adults, demonstrating that MBAT participants experienced significant improvements in psychological and physical symptomatology compared to control groups, with a medium effect size for MBAT interventions. The findings underscore MBAT's potential as a promising complementary therapy for symptom relief. However, the review highlighted the need for further research, given the limited number of studies and their concentration on cancer survivors. Future randomized controlled trials with larger samples and diverse chronic conditions are recommended to substantiate MBAT's efficacy and broaden its applicability.