This research has been made to observe how art therapies affect single mothers' self-respect, depression and anxiety.
The survey was conducted on 5 women who were pregnant or already gave birth: Some were teenagers and the other were in their twent...
This research has been made to observe how art therapies affect single mothers' self-respect, depression and anxiety.
The survey was conducted on 5 women who were pregnant or already gave birth: Some were teenagers and the other were in their twenties.
They were selected from 30 women at Chungbuk "J" facilities, and the research was run 22 times: Once a week, 90 minutes for each time.
The results are as follows:
First, the art therapy helped the single mothers have self-respect.
The art therapy, in details, made peer group self-respect increase from the average of 12.8(1.64)-which was before the therapy-to the average of 20.4(1.67)-which was after the therapy. This is an average of 7.8 increase. For domestic self-respect, it showed an increase from the average of 9.2(1.48) to 11.4(2.07), which makes an average of 2.2 increase after the therapy. Also, for academic self-respect, it showed an increase from the average of 9.2(2.88) to 14.4(3.29), which makes an average of 4.8 increase after the therapy. Therefore, it proves that the art therapy affects on the self-respect in every area.
Second, the group art therapy helped the single mothers lessen their depression.
Before the therapy, the single mothers' depression level was 22.4(3.97) on the average.
After the therapy, however, the average decreased to 13.6(3.21), which makes a 8.8 decrease.
Third, the group art therapy helped to lessen the single mothers' anxieties. Before the therapy, the single mothers anxiety level was 48.6(2.30) on the average, but it decreased down to the average of 39.4(2.70). This is a 9.2 decrease on the average.
This tells that five single mothers showed their self-respect improved while their depressions and anxieties lessened through the art therapy.
The result proves that the group art therapy helped to increase self-respect and lessen depressions and anxieties at the same time. Other group counseling programs also have positive sides, but the group art therapy seems more ideal for the single mothers.
Through the group art therapy, the depressed helpless single mothers can help themselves from refusals by expressing themselves while looking at the artwork. While respecting and appreciating the artwork, they learn to respect themselves, and this activity also helps them to solve their own problems. By helping them to have hopes for the future, the art therapy also helps them to encourage one another. This, after all, lessens depressions and anxieties and makes them stable and relaxed.
Therefore, the art therapy can be used to increase self-respect while decreasing depressions and anxieties. Also, the therapy can be used as one method in group counseling. To be concrete, to help the single mothers, more art therapy programs need to be studied and applied systematically in various ways. In that way, the art therapy will be able to used in guidance programs and other counseling programs to solve psychological problems of the single mothers and prevent from any further mental problems.