This study examined effects of group art therapy utilizing three-dimensional art activities on improving the self-efficacy of single parent children. Among 4th to 6th grade single parent children attending a local community center in city H, Gyongsan...
This study examined effects of group art therapy utilizing three-dimensional art activities on improving the self-efficacy of single parent children. Among 4th to 6th grade single parent children attending a local community center in city H, Gyongsangbuk-do, 16 students whose self-efficacy scores were below 60 were selected to be the participants of this study. They were assigned to the experimental group of 8 and control group of 8. The experimental group received a total of 20 sessions, each session 70 to 80 minutes, twice a week from July 5, 2010 to September 23rd, 2010.
The instrument for this study was Han's (2002) self-efficacy scale modified to measure the self-efficacy of elementary school children from an original self-efficacy scale measuring general self-efficacy. A pre, post, and follow-up test of self-efficacy were administered to both the experimental and control group. With regard to Assignment difficulty, a sub-category of self-efficacy, the section of problem solving ability, a domain of Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale belonging to Person Picking an Apple from the Tree (PPAT) was assessed. The data were computed for a repeated measures analysis of variance on SPSS WIN program (version 12.0).
The findings of this study are as follows.
First, group art therapy utilizing three dimensional art activities was effective in improving the self-efficacy of single parent children, the effect of which was also found in the follow-up test. In addition, self-efficacy sub-categories such as Self-confidence, Self-control efficacy, Assignment difficulty revealed positive effects of the therapy, the effect of which was also found in the follow-up test.
Second, the analysis of PPAT drawings revealed improvements in problem solving ability in the comparison of the pretest with the post and follow-up test. The pretest showed that although a few cases of using a simple tool such as a ladder or stick to pick apples were found, almost no cases of apples in the hand and the basket were found, an indication of difficulty in solving a problem. However, the post and follow-up test showed cases of using tools including the simple tools and holding apples in the hand. In most of the drawings, baskets full of apples were seen. In addition, the process of acquiring the apples and a means to carry them were seen in the drawings, an indication of improvement in problem solving ability.
Third, an observation of the participants' behavior to detect any change in self-efficacy revealed self-efficacy improvement as the phases of the therapy progressed. Upon the ending phase compared with the beginning phase, the participants became confident, gave presentations actively, and were very proud of their works. They used the materials in various ways, made creative art works, not giving up when encountering a difficulty, which gave them a sense of achievement.
The above findings show that group art therapy utilizing three dimensional activities is effective in improving the self-efficacy of single parent children.