Date of Award

Spring 5-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

EVMS School of Health Professions

Program/Concentration

Art Therapy and Counseling

Committee Director

Sarah Deaver

Abstract

A paucity of research supporting the influence of art processes and materials is a major deficit in the field of art therapy. In this thesis study, the impact of Cane Scribble Exercises in regard to improving mood and decreasing anxiety was investigated through non-­‐experimental retrospective analysis. From a data set of response sheets generated by psychiatrically diagnosed, acutely hospitalized adults before and after the intervention, statistically significant positive change was noted for the participants from pre-­‐intervention to post-­‐intervention in both anxiety level (0.7083 ± 0.093, F=57.22, p< .0001) and depression level (0.6111 ± 0.104, F=34.25, p < .0001). Further investigation of the impact of demographic factors revealed subtle differences in mean change between the factors, but an overall positive change across age, gender, and diagnoses remained present. The reliability of the method of rating change, limitations of the study design, and comparisons to previously published research are discussed. The results of this study, that positive change occurs in patients who participate in Cane Scribble Exercises, suggest many opportunities for further art therapy research.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/ht4e-8a83

Download

Included in

Art Therapy Commons

Share

COinS