The number of international marriages, especially multi-cultural families, is quickly increasing in our country through which the Korean society is gradually becoming a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic nation. In addition, the percentage of children in...
The number of international marriages, especially multi-cultural families, is quickly increasing in our country through which the Korean society is gradually becoming a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic nation. In addition, the percentage of children in multi-cultural families is also gradually increasing in the school field as they are also gradually increasing.
Even in the midst of such social change, however, social prejudice and discrimination on other race, cultural and ethnic group still exists due to which the constituents, especially the children, in multi-cultural families are experiencing many psychological and emotional hurts and conflicts. Such exclusive social attitude could cause various types of difficulties for children in multi-cultural families, which could also have negative effects on their self-identity and become hindrance factor in their normal and health growth. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to examine the effects of group art therapy for improving ego-resilience, which is the adaptability to grow healthfully even in the midst of tough and difficult environment and conflict, for children in multi-cultural families.
In this study, experimental group and control group were established among children in multi-cultural families that are in A region center for children in the Metropolitan region to conduct pre- and post-test of the program and compare the results in order to verify the effectiveness of the program. Independent sample t-test was conducted to verify the pre-homogeneity of the experimental group and the control group, and ANCOVA was conducted to verify the program effect, and the contents on the interpretation and evaluation were qualitatively analyzed through Landscape Montage Technique (LMT) which is a projective drawing test.
The results of this study are as follows.
First, the group art therapy was effective in improving the ego-resilience of children in multi-cultural families. In addition, it was effective in increasing the viability and optimism that are sub-variables of ego-resilience.
Second, the group art therapy that was conducted for children in multi-cultural families was effective in allowing them to find psychological & emotional stability even in the midst of social prejudice and financial difficulties, as well as form their self-image to have positive changes in their interaction with others.
The significance of this study is in developing a group art therapy program for improving ego-resilience of children in multi-cultural families and verifying its effectiveness with the purpose of seeking to contribute to effective therapy intervention for helping children in multi-cultural families grow healthfully and flexibly even in the midst of psychological and emotional conflict so that they can adapt to and blend into the Korean society.
Key Words : Children in Multi-Cultural Families, Ego-Resilience, Group Art Therapy