Abstract: Art therapy allows individuals to creatively explore emotions, positively impacts mental state and cognition, and increases resilience and self-esteem through its restorative properties. Many previously performed studies affirm the effectiveness of art therapy on a range of people from cancer patients to the elderly with varying levels of cognitive decline. The positive psychological benefits of art have been assessed with advanced technology that shows a correlation between changes in neurological activity and happiness and relaxation. Although most studies conducted had participants engage in freestyle drawing or painting, this study was done to examine the effectiveness of guided painting in a group setting. It was a prospective single-arm interventional study and was specifically targeted towards older individuals in various assisted living facilities to investigate whether a positive correlation exists between art and mood. Guided painting sessions were taught so that the painting would be broken down into a series of manageable steps without seeming overwhelming to the participants. The subjects were divided into four groups and evaluated, upon conclusion of the art session, using a survey to rate their mood on a scale of 1 to 5 before and after painting. Results showed that in 86.67% of the participants, painting enhanced their mood with fine (3) being the most common mood before and good (4) after painting. This enhancement of mood after painting may have been due to cathartic release, a distraction from ruminative thoughts, or heightened cognitive skills.
Introduction: Art therapy is thought to have restorative and adaptive purposes as it activates the creative and imaginative parts of the brain. It provides a platform for effective self-expression by stimulating subconscious emotions and memories.
Mobile Brain/ Body Imaging (MoBI) techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG), quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) allow researchers to monitor neurological functions in the process of creating art. EEG studies demonstrated that the process of creating art increased brain activity compared to rote sensorimotor tasks. A qEEG was utilized to detect discrepancies in brain activity patterns between artists and non- artists, showing a heightened presence of alpha brainwaves for both groups. Alpha waves are present when experiencing a state of mindfulness or meditation, and have the ability to lessen depressive symptoms and foster creative thinking 3. The qEGG demonstrates that art can activate areas of the brain associated with memory processing, meditative states, and spatiotemporal processing. Using the fNIRS, it was also evaluated that participants who were coloring, doodling, or free drawing activated a reward pathway in the brain 2. These results indicate that even people lacking experience in the field of art have the ability to reap the benefits of painting, such as relaxation and positive emotional state, even if they are engaging in this creative activity for the first time.
In light of these immense benefits that can be attained through art therapy, it is important to use this technique in populations that could be prone to depression or other mental and physical illnesses such as the elderly. The global elderly population has reached record numbers and is only going to continue to increase in the years to come, an estimated increase from 12% to 22% by 2050. Depressive symptoms affect 7% of the global elderly population and 35% of older adults living in nursing homes in the US. Art therapy has been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression while being cost-effective compared to antidepressant drugs, which also produce undesirable side-effects. The physical attributes of art, such as making a certain brushstroke, induce relaxation, and release of stress. For the cultural aspect, art prompts creative expression and positive memories. Emotionally, art facilitates inner expression through visual communication and boosts self-esteem, leading to a more positive perspective of oneself. Interpersonal relationships are bolstered through group art sessions as they socialize and bond over sharing the experience of creating art. Lastly, painting strengthens cognitive abilities by eliciting positive memories and distracting from any negative thoughts 4.
Given the evidence suggesting that art can enhance one’s psychological state, it was hypothesized that elderly residents living in nursing homes would experience a positive change in their mood upon completion of the guided painting session.
Methods: The participants were members of three senior living communities in southeastern Connecticut, one of which was visited twice, but had a different group of people participating in the second session. Thus, there were four different subject groups designated A, B, C, and D. The demographics and conditions in these three communities were comparable.
Guided painting classes were taught where the residents could follow along with the brush strokes made by the instructor. Each step of the painting was explained, a demonstration of how to mix a certain color was given, and finally, the placement of the color on the canvas was indicated. Adequate time was given for the majority of people to finish that particular stroke, during which time the residents could ask the instructor any questions, before advancing to the next section. The painting varied at each location, however, they each approximately had the same level of difficulty.
Results: It was found that 86.67% of the time, the process of painting enhanced the mood of the residents in each of the various nursing homes. The mood of the participants was never negatively affected.
Figure 1: Frequency distribution graph of mood changes
Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D depict the various landscapes the residents painted at each location. Although each person was given the same directions, they interpreted them differently and produced unique paintings.
Figure 2A: Paintings in progress of sunset reflected in water with group A
Figure 2B: Sunset at beach paintings with group B
Figure 2C: Winter trees at sunrise paintings with group C
Figure 2D: Paintings of a desert night with group D
Discussion: The results of the study were consistent with the hypothesis that guided art therapy positively enhances mood in older individuals. The fact that different residents interpreted the same painting in a multitude of ways, as can be seen in figures 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, and produced paintings with subtle differences goes to show how art fosters self-expression and promotes the release of less conscious emotions. Although most residents expressed concern over their artistic abilities, in the beginning, they ended up admitting that they were surprised with the results and felt it less overwhelming when the painting was broken down into a series of manageable steps. Suggesting that this manner of actively painting each step with the residents helped calm their nerves about their artistic capabilities, allowing them to enjoy the process of painting instead of worrying about the end result. It may have been more daunting for them to stare at a blank canvas and be given no guidance or direction on what or how to paint. The act of painting may not have been the sole contributor to mood enhancement as it could be attributed to the presence of a volunteer or the sociability of the activity. In the future, a randomized controlled trial could be performed with one group partaking in the guided painting session while another group is simply visited by a volunteer to eliminate factors that may have influenced the study. This study could also be expanded to be conducted for an extended period of time to observe the correlation not only between art and mood, but also between art and cognitive or motor abilities.
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Written by Niharika Burugapalli
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