ABSTRACT

The Effects of Person Centered Group Art Therapy on Self Esteem and Peer Relationship for Children of Low Socioeconomic Status

Kim Seo-An
Advisor: Prof.Youngran Kweon, Ph.D., PMHNP
Department of Psychological Art Therapy,
Graduate School of Chosun University

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of person-centered art therapy on self-esteem and peer relationships for children of low socioeconomic status. Methods: A quasi-experimental with non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was conducted. The participants were 75 children of low socioeconomic status at 3 community children welfare centers in G city (Experimental group 1 = 25, Experimental group 2 = 25, Control group = 25). The experimental group received the person-centered art therapy program, and the control group received the program after the experiment. Data was collected from December 15th, 2014 to April 24th, 2015 through two self-administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed using χ2-test and one-way ANOVA. Also, the qualitative data analysis was arranged by session through the different stages and individuals according to Anderson’s thematic content analysis. Results: After the intervention, children of low socioeconomic status in the experimental group 1 and 2 reported significant differences in self-esteem (F=31.999, p<.001), peer relationship (F=11.382, p<.001) compared to the control group. Third, in qualitative data analysis, self-esteem increased by changing art in positive manner as pre, middle, post of the individual''s evaluation and in effect of peer relationship, interaction and comprehension were increased. Conclusion: These results indicate that a person-centered art therapy program for the children of low socioeconomic status is effective in improving self-esteem and peer relationship. Therefore further study should be done with larger and varied participants to confirm the effects of the person-centered art therapy program for the children of low socioeconomic status.

Key words: Children of Low Socioeconomic Status, Group Art therapy, Self-Esteem, Peer Relationship