TY - JOUR
T1 - Child-focused outcome and process evaluation of a school-based art therapy intervention
T2 - A pilot randomised controlled study
AU - Moula, Zoe
AU - Powell, Joanne
AU - Konstant, Tania Nicole
AU - Karkou, Vicky
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Edge Hill University PhD/GTA scholarships programme.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/9/30
Y1 - 2023/9/30
N2 - This pilot cross-over randomised controlled study aimed to investigate the implementation of a school-based art therapy intervention, and to test whether all elements of the study design (e.g., recruitment, randomisation, follow-up) can work together in a larger study. The process and outcomes were evaluated by children through interviews, standardised questionnaires of quality of life, wellbeing and life functioning, emotional and behavioural difficulties, and biomarkers assessing children's sleep. Adherence to the therapeutic protocol was rated by the researcher and the art therapist. The greatest impact of art therapy was observed in children's exploration of safe space, stress relief, emotional expression, and empowerment. The improvements reported through the standardised questionnaires did not reach statistical significance but were maintained one year later. All sessions were given an average rating of 9/10, indicating that children's session quality ratings were high and consistent across sessions. Sample size calculations for future large-scales studies were performed and recommendations were provided regarding how to improve the impact of art therapy from children's perspectives.
AB - This pilot cross-over randomised controlled study aimed to investigate the implementation of a school-based art therapy intervention, and to test whether all elements of the study design (e.g., recruitment, randomisation, follow-up) can work together in a larger study. The process and outcomes were evaluated by children through interviews, standardised questionnaires of quality of life, wellbeing and life functioning, emotional and behavioural difficulties, and biomarkers assessing children's sleep. Adherence to the therapeutic protocol was rated by the researcher and the art therapist. The greatest impact of art therapy was observed in children's exploration of safe space, stress relief, emotional expression, and empowerment. The improvements reported through the standardised questionnaires did not reach statistical significance but were maintained one year later. All sessions were given an average rating of 9/10, indicating that children's session quality ratings were high and consistent across sessions. Sample size calculations for future large-scales studies were performed and recommendations were provided regarding how to improve the impact of art therapy from children's perspectives.
KW - Art therapy
KW - Child
KW - Pilot
KW - Randomised controlled trial
KW - School
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85172760923&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.aip.2023.102085
DO - 10.1016/j.aip.2023.102085
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85172760923
SN - 0197-4556
VL - 86
JO - ARTS IN PSYCHOTHERAPY
JF - ARTS IN PSYCHOTHERAPY
M1 - 102085
ER -
