A Pilot Intervention Study of Structured Art Therapy to Enhance Psychological Well-Being and Quality of Life in Older Adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2026.v18i01.015Abstract
Background: Aging leads to decreases in physical, mental, and social abilities, affecting the well-being of older people. Although art therapy is widely used, there is still little research on its specific methods and benefits for older adults. This study looked at the initial effects of organized art therapy on enhancing the Quality of Life (QoL) and Psychological Well-being (PWB) of older adults. Methods: This pilot study used a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-tests without a control group. Art therapy, including drawing, coloring, making handicrafts, and collage activities, was conducted in one nursing home in Semarang, including 40 residents experiencing loneliness based on the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) loneliness scale. The World Health Organization Quality of Life - Bref (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire and the Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale (RPWBS) were used. Since the data distributed normally, a paired t-test was used to examine the effects of art therapy; meanwhile, the QoL domains used the Wilcoxon signed rank test because the data did not distribute normally. Results: Post-intervention assessments indicated an improvement in both QoL and PWB scores, with the average QoL score increasing by 5.86 and the average PWB score rising by 4.35. Nevertheless, these results are preliminary and should not be construed as definitive evidence of effectiveness. Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest that the intervention is feasible and may improve QoL and PWB. Nonetheless, the clinical utility of the intervention is not yet established, owing to the pilot study design, small sample size, and non-probability sampling. Consequently, larger controlled studies are necessary.
Keywords:
aged, art therapy, feasible, lonely, mental healthDownloads
References
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