This study was designed to investigate the relationship between loneliness and life satisfaction for institutionalized old persons, and The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of group art therapy on Korean institutionalized old persons....
This study was designed to investigate the relationship between loneliness and life satisfaction for institutionalized old persons, and The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of group art therapy on Korean institutionalized old persons.
The designed of the study was group pretest-posttest research design. The subjects were 24 institutionalized older persons who were hospitalized at old persons expropriation center located in Taegu city.
A program comprised of 16 sessions group art therapy was administered to both groups for 2 months, beginning of February, 2001.
The results of this study are as follows.
First, with respect to qualitative aspects, the institution old persons pleasantly participated in art activities with revealing their experience more freely, improved their interpersonal relationships.
The also revealed increased life satisfaction, interest in other's work, and empathy for others' presence and their works.
Second, the result of group art therapy, experimental group are decreased loneliness. The mean score of perceived loneliness was 61.25(SD=3.91) before group art therapy into operation and 47.41(SD=1.83) after group art therapy into operation. There was a significant difference experimental group in scores.
Third, experimental group are improved life satisfaction. The mean score of life satisfaction index was 30.33(SD=3.05) before group art therapy into operation, and 39.90(SD=2.53) after group art therapy into operation. There was a significant difference experimental group in scores.
Fourth, a gap between man and woman of the experimental group about loneliness and life satisfaction was insignificant.
In short, the group art therapy program employed in this study seemed to have beneficial effects about loneliness and satisfaction of the institutionalized old persons.