The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of print art therapy on the self-expression and behavioral problems of institution- alized children. The subjects in this study were two institutionalized children who had something wrong with self-e...
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of print art therapy on the self-expression and behavioral problems of institution- alized children. The subjects in this study were two institutionalized children who had something wrong with self-expression and behaviors. An art therapy was provided in 16 sessions, once a week, 60 minutes each, to assist them to become less reluctant to express themselves and further their communication. To determine the effect of the art therapy, their art-self expressiveness was assessed, and K-HTP(Kinetic-House Tree Person) test and a minor behavioral evaluation scale were utilized.
The major findings of the study were as follows:
First, the print art therapy was effective in enhancing the self- expression of the institutionalized children.
Especially, they made a progress in thematic expression, color use, art form, composition and creativity. When the K-HTP test was implemented before and after the experiment, they were inattentive and avoid expressing themselves in the pretest, but their self-expressiveness underwent a positive change in the posttest, as they were more willing to describe things and their own feelings, and became more interactive.
Second, the print art therapy had a good effect on alleviating their behavioral problems.
Before the experiment, the T score of both child A and child B was 75 in total behavioral problem including physical symptom, depression/ anxiety, social immaturity, thinking problem, aggressiveness, delinquency and attention deficit, which was higher than that of normal children. After the experiment, however, the T score of child A was 56, and that of child B was 65, which showed their total behavioral problems were on the decrease. Their improved self-expression was one of the reasons to relieve their behavioral problems, but another important reason was that they built a more positive self-image and confidence in the course of unleashing their oppressed emotions by using print. Their improved self-image and confidence brought a favorable change to their behavioral problems.
The findings of the study suggested that the print art therapy had a positive effect on the self-expression and behavioral problems of the institutionalized children. To step up the sound growth of institutionalized children who suffer emotional and behavioral problems due to environmental factors, more preventive art therapy programs should be developed.