The purpose of this study is to investigate how art therapy effects to a sense of self-efficacy of an early school age child. When early school age child, develop theirself-concept and peer-relationship at school where is a newly faced social organiza...
The purpose of this study is to investigate how art therapy effects to a sense of self-efficacy of an early school age child. When early school age child, develop theirself-concept and peer-relationship at school where is a newly faced social organization. In general, growth of a child is developed by a process that consists of self-aiming and its achievement. The goals are influenced by self-efficacy which is a conviction for their ability to estimate a result that leads their performance in advance. Thus, in this study changes in terms of quality on self-efficacy will be analyzed during performing art therapy to an early school age child.
A participant of this study is a boy aged 6years and 9 months old who has a difficult to perform. The experiment period was from December 19th, 2015 to April 30th, 2016. Except pre and post test, total of seventeen art therapy programs were conducted for about 60 minutes during session held once a week. Data is collected from Art works and photos of therapy sessions, recording, observation journal, interview with guardian and pre and post test of self-efficacy. The collected data is repeatedly examined. The results of this study about self-efficacy, art activities courses and art expression, language, behavior, emotion, and mutual relationship are as follows.
Firstly, art therapy improves child’s self-efficacy in general. The test score of self-efficacy increased by 30 points. Pre-test score was 52 and post test score was 82.
Secondly, as a result of Art therapy, it is found that a desire to express his interests and emotions has improved during art works. In addition, there has been a considerable change on his art expression in terms of conventions and contents. At early part of research, limited expressions such as use of narrow space and single color are performed. However, at the end of art therapy, diversity of his expression has improved with expanded use of space, shapes and mixed colors. Furthermore, there is a change on attempting use of new materials instead of materials which preferred and familiar.
Thirdly, through the art therapy, it is shown that there is an increased level of initiative on behavior and psychological stability. Also, negative expressions by the subject child are declined significantly. For example, during therapy, positive expectations on art-activity are appeared in contrast with negative and passive behaviors shown at the beginning such as stern look and sigh. In detail, during art works process, the subject child shows pleasure and satisfactions with free expression as he wants. Also, anxiety with failure decreases considerably.
Fourthly, based on trust and intimacy with researcher, the subject child experiences a positive effect of therapy on active behavior, frank expression and sympathy with others. Also, under stable circumstance, the participant is able to express his own desire by having ahumorous conversation with researcher.
As results from this study, art therapy affects the acting, feeling and thinking process of the subject. Through this process, subject was able to understand himself and change the self-efficacy beliefs about his ability. Therefore, showing understanding of art therapy process and concrete changes, this study provides basic data for the precautionary approach and intervention directions to the future efficacy of early school age child.