The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of group art therapy with molding activity on children's peer relations and self-esteem, so as to provide a foundation to improve children's self-esteem and peer relations while using the molding mat...
The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of group art therapy with molding activity on children's peer relations and self-esteem, so as to provide a foundation to improve children's self-esteem and peer relations while using the molding materials.
Study subjects are a total of 12 second-graders of B-elementary school in D-city who are selected with the score less than 62.5 on pretest. Out of the 12 students, only 5 students were eventually selected as study subjects after agreement by parents and teachers to have the children participate the program.
A total of 24 sessions of art therapy with molding activity were given during the three months period of March 15, 2007 through June 18, 2007. The therapy sessions were made twice a week and each session for 60-80 minutes, starting at 1 o'clock in the afternoon right after the school lunch time. Research instrument are Hudson's IPR (Index of Peer Relationship) and Coopersmith's SEI (Self-Esteem Inventory) version B with 25 questions. For data analysis, SPSSWIN 12.0 is adopted to provide Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test as a nonparametric test. To check the effectiveness of the therapy program, pretest and posttest for Peer Relationship and Self-Esteem are given and analyzed by Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test.
The results of the study are as follows.
First, there has been a significant difference on the study subjects' peer relations by molding activity centered group art therapy. It means the score for peer relationship on pretest is higher than that of posttest, indicating that a molding activity centered group art therapy program has positive effects on the children's peer relations.
Second, there has been a significant difference on the study subjects' self-esteem by molding activity centered group art therapy. It means the score for self-esteem on pretest is higher than that of posttest, indicating that a molding activity centered group art therapy program has positive effects on the children's self-esteem.