A study conducted at Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon tested the effectiveness of a group art therapy workshop developed to promote the well-being of university students. The results indicated an increase in subjective well-being, characterized by positive emotions (especially gratitude, inspiration, and relaxation), life satisfaction, and a reduction in negative feelings.
Images of the workshop setting | © 2022 courtesy of the research team
"University students face unique challenges that can affect their mental health," says psychologist and researcher Patricia Arriaga from the Center for Psychological Research and Social Intervention (CIS-Iscte), the first author of this study. Considering factors such as the pressure for good academic performance, as well as feelings of loneliness, which can cause anxiety and depressive symptoms, "promoting mental health in university students is essential for their academic and social success, and also to prevent the development or worsening of psychological disorders," says Patricia Arriaga.
One of the approaches to promoting well-being that has received attention in research is art-therapy. In collaboration with CIS-Iscte, the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology (CIES-Iscte), and art therapists from the Portuguese Society of Art Therapy (SPAT), an art therapy workshop was developed to be conducted in a group setting aimed at university students and evaluated its impact on 89 students. In three-hour workshops conducted by certified art therapists, participants explored various artistic resources, such as sound and music, guided imagery, visual arts, as well as creative writing, and dramatic enactment. To assess the impact of these sessions, students were asked to fill out questionnaires about their well-being, anxiety states, loneliness, and self-awareness, before and after the workshop. Since the workshop was developed to be conducted in a group, perceived group cohesion was also evaluated in terms of connection, unity, and synchrony among the students in each group. Two to three weeks after the workshop, loneliness, and life satisfaction were assessed again.
"Overall, following the workshop, there was a significant increase in the subjective well-being reported by the participants," says researcher Sibila Marques (CIS-Iscte). These results were also accompanied by a decrease in anxiety levels, suggesting that involvement in the activities helped reduce immediate sensations of stress and tension. Researcher and art therapist Raquel Freitas (CIES-Iscte, SPAT) adds that "the workshop facilitated an increase in awareness of one's thoughts and feelings and about the surrounding environment, and reduced concerns about social judgments." In addition, a temporary decrease in perceived loneliness was reported, which the authors of the study attribute to the interpersonal connections that occurred during the group activity, considering the high group cohesion expressed by the students.
However, according to the research team, two to three weeks after the workshop, life satisfaction and perceived loneliness returned to levels reported before the workshop, indicating the absence of a lasting effect. "Although the participants positively evaluated their experience and the group cohesion facilitated by the therapists, a single intervention is insufficient for the full development of the groups and to generate lasting effects. Nevertheless, the temporary positive outcomes in perceived well-being and the interest expressed in continuing the activities are indicative of the relevance of continuing these interventions in university students," concludes researcher Patrícia Arriaga. The researcher also highlighting the need for higher investment in university mental health, accompanied by research that analyzes the efficacy of these interventions and produces evidence-based recommendations.
In an era where mental health concerns are increasingly a concern in our society, with various strategies being adopted—such as the psychologist vouchers for university students distributed by the Portuguese government—the implementation of interventions through art therapy can be one avenue for promoting well-being. The research team is composed of Patrícia Arriaga, Magda P. Simões, Sibila Marques, Raquel Freitas, Helena D. Pinto, Maria Paula Prior, Sílvia Candeias, and Margarida Rodrigues. Their work was published in the journal The Arts in Psychotherapy and includes supplementary material specifying and explaining the aims of each activity conducted in the Workshop, allowing for its replicability.
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