The purpose of this study was to develop a school-based art therapy program applicable to elementary school settings and to examine its effectiveness
in enhancing ego-resilience among upper-grade elementary school students. In recent years, the schoo...
The purpose of this study was to develop a school-based art therapy program applicable to elementary school settings and to examine its effectiveness
in enhancing ego-resilience among upper-grade elementary school students. In recent years, the school environment has become increasingly competitive, and
children are exposed to psychological challenges stemming from peer conflicts, emotional instability, and academic pressure. In particular, students in the upper
grades of elementary school are in a transitional developmental stage characterized by the onset of early adolescence, during which identity formation and social adaptation are simultaneously required. Therefore, providing an art therapy program that can be routinely implemented within the school setting is of critical importance for promoting emotional stability and ego-resilience in this population.
The specific research questions were as follows: (1) How should a school-based art therapy program designed to enhance ego-resilience be structured to reflect the developmental characteristics of upper-grade elementary school students? and (2) What effects does the developed program have on improving ego-resilience in this population? To address these questions, the program was developed based on a comprehensive review of the literature and a needs assessment, following the five-stage program development model proposed by Park In-woo (1995): analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The program consisted of ten sessions focusing on four subfactors of ego-resilience?interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, vitality, and optimism. The initial phase emphasized self-expression and rapport building, the middle phase focused on emotional awareness and enhancement of vitality, and the final phase aimed to strengthen optimism through future-oriented expression.
Participants were fifth-grade students from an elementary school located in Gyeonggi Province, Korea. The experimental group (n = 16) and the control group (n = 16) were assigned, and the program was conducted twice a week for a total of ten sessions, each lasting 80 minutes. To verify the effectiveness of the program, pre- and post-test data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 20.0. The Mann-Whitney U test, a nonparametric statistical method, was employed to examine differences between the two groups. In addition, qualitative analyses were conducted through the examination of artworks, verbal and nonverbal responses, and observational records in order to explore psychological changes in participants from multiple perspectives.
The results indicated that the experimental group showed statistically significant improvements compared to the control group in overall ego-resilience as well as in all subfactors, including interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, vitality, and optimism. Qualitative findings revealed notable changes such as expanded self-understanding, increased emotional stability in expression, strengthened peer support, and the development of a more positive outlook toward the future. These findings suggest that school-based art therapy effectively contributes to emotional stability, interpersonal development, and the enhancement of ego-resilience among upper-grade elementary school students.
In conclusion, this study presents a concrete and practical model of school-based art therapy as a preventive and developmental psychological support approach that can be implemented in parallel with the regular school curriculum. Furthermore, the study holds academic and practical significance in demonstrating the potential for expanding school-based psychological support systems and enhancing the educational applicability of art therapy.