The purpose of the present study aims to investigate the effects of art therapy on self-expression and social skill to the institutionalized children. For this purpose, one-hour art therapy program with total 14 sessions were carried out to the four i...
The purpose of the present study aims to investigate the effects of art therapy on self-expression and social skill to the institutionalized children. For this purpose, one-hour art therapy program with total 14 sessions were carried out to the four institutionalized children. who were apparently believed to have problems with assertive behavior and social skill. The tests to access the assertive behavior and social skill were conducted before and after the program. Mean and standard deviation were calculated with the results of the tests and were analysed with paired T-test. In addition, a Kinetic House-Tree-Person (K-HTP) test was applied, and their activities in each session were observed and recorded to compare their transformation of Art-Self Expression (ASE).
The results of the present study are as follows:
First, art therapy programs had a positive effect on institutionalized children, improving their self-expression.
Second, art therapy programs had a positive effect on institutionalized children, improving their social skill.
Based on the results of the study, the writer suggests the following:
First, it is necessary to expand the program to other children as well as the institutionalized children in order to generalize the result of the program. Also, this study has limitation with duration of time because aspects like self-expression and social skill are difficult to measure with such a short period of time. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct the art therapy programs with a long-term base.
Second, it is essential to perform the art therapy program based on the specifications in emotional and psychological developments, and to analyse its effects.
Third, this study included only four children residing at the facility in Sangju, northern Kyungsang province, so it id difficult to generalize the result. Therefore it is necessary to prove the effects by expanding the program to more institutionalized children.
Fourth, children who participated in the program were 8~12 years old ranging from low elementary to middle school. Hence, it is difficult to generalize the results of the present study to a larger population. For further research, it is essential to develop various programs by limiting a single age group or by expanding all age group who reside in the facilities.