Art Therapy for Psychosocial Problems in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Narrative Review on Art Therapeutic Means and Forms of Expression, Therapist Behavior, and Supposed Mechanisms of Change
Background: Art therapy (AT) is frequently offered to children and adolescents with psychosocial problems. AT is an experiential form of treatment in which the use of art materials, the process of creation in the presence and guidance of an art therapist, and the resulting artwork are assumed to con...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.584685/full |
| _version_ | 1819015615776555008 |
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| author | Liesbeth Bosgraaf Liesbeth Bosgraaf Liesbeth Bosgraaf Liesbeth Bosgraaf Marinus Spreen Kim Pattiselanno Susan van Hooren Susan van Hooren Susan van Hooren |
| author_facet | Liesbeth Bosgraaf Liesbeth Bosgraaf Liesbeth Bosgraaf Liesbeth Bosgraaf Marinus Spreen Kim Pattiselanno Susan van Hooren Susan van Hooren Susan van Hooren |
| author_sort | Liesbeth Bosgraaf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Art therapy (AT) is frequently offered to children and adolescents with psychosocial problems. AT is an experiential form of treatment in which the use of art materials, the process of creation in the presence and guidance of an art therapist, and the resulting artwork are assumed to contribute to the reduction of psychosocial problems. Although previous research reports positive effects, there is a lack of knowledge on which (combination of) art therapeutic components contribute to the reduction of psychosocial problems in children and adolescents.Method: A systematic narrative review was conducted to give an overview of AT interventions for children and adolescents with psychosocial problems. Fourteen databases and four electronic journals up to January 2020 were systematically searched. The applied means and forms of expression, therapist behavior, supposed mechanisms of change, and effects were extracted and coded.Results: Thirty-seven studies out of 1,299 studies met the inclusion criteria. This concerned 16 randomized controlled trials, eight controlled trials, and 13 single-group pre–post design studies. AT interventions for children and adolescents are characterized by a variety of materials/techniques, forms of structure such as giving topics or assignments, and the use of language. Three forms of therapist behavior were seen: non-directive, directive, and eclectic. All three forms of therapist behavior, in combination with a variety of means and forms of expression, showed significant effects on psychosocial problems.Conclusions: The results showed that the use of means and forms of expression and therapist behavior is applied flexibly. This suggests the responsiveness of AT, in which means and forms of expression and therapist behavior are applied to respond to the client's needs and circumstances, thereby giving positive results for psychosocial outcomes. For future studies, presenting detailed information on the potential beneficial effects of used therapeutic perspectives, means, art techniques, and therapist behavior is recommended to get a better insight into (un)successful art therapeutic elements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T02:34:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc7dc3e889e74eca81c2a7367df2a42b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T02:34:33Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc7dc3e889e74eca81c2a7367df2a42b2022-12-21T19:18:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782020-10-011110.3389/fpsyg.2020.584685584685Art Therapy for Psychosocial Problems in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Narrative Review on Art Therapeutic Means and Forms of Expression, Therapist Behavior, and Supposed Mechanisms of ChangeLiesbeth Bosgraaf0Liesbeth Bosgraaf1Liesbeth Bosgraaf2Liesbeth Bosgraaf3Marinus Spreen4Kim Pattiselanno5Susan van Hooren6Susan van Hooren7Susan van Hooren8Faculty of Healthcare and Social Work, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Leeuwarden, NetherlandsAlliade, Care Group, Heerenveen, NetherlandsKenVaK, Research Center for Arts Therapies, Heerlen, NetherlandsFaculty of Psychology, Open University, Heerlen, NetherlandsFaculty of Healthcare and Social Work, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Leeuwarden, NetherlandsFaculty of Healthcare and Social Work, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Leeuwarden, NetherlandsKenVaK, Research Center for Arts Therapies, Heerlen, NetherlandsFaculty of Psychology, Open University, Heerlen, NetherlandsFaculty of Healthcare, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Heerlen, NetherlandsBackground: Art therapy (AT) is frequently offered to children and adolescents with psychosocial problems. AT is an experiential form of treatment in which the use of art materials, the process of creation in the presence and guidance of an art therapist, and the resulting artwork are assumed to contribute to the reduction of psychosocial problems. Although previous research reports positive effects, there is a lack of knowledge on which (combination of) art therapeutic components contribute to the reduction of psychosocial problems in children and adolescents.Method: A systematic narrative review was conducted to give an overview of AT interventions for children and adolescents with psychosocial problems. Fourteen databases and four electronic journals up to January 2020 were systematically searched. The applied means and forms of expression, therapist behavior, supposed mechanisms of change, and effects were extracted and coded.Results: Thirty-seven studies out of 1,299 studies met the inclusion criteria. This concerned 16 randomized controlled trials, eight controlled trials, and 13 single-group pre–post design studies. AT interventions for children and adolescents are characterized by a variety of materials/techniques, forms of structure such as giving topics or assignments, and the use of language. Three forms of therapist behavior were seen: non-directive, directive, and eclectic. All three forms of therapist behavior, in combination with a variety of means and forms of expression, showed significant effects on psychosocial problems.Conclusions: The results showed that the use of means and forms of expression and therapist behavior is applied flexibly. This suggests the responsiveness of AT, in which means and forms of expression and therapist behavior are applied to respond to the client's needs and circumstances, thereby giving positive results for psychosocial outcomes. For future studies, presenting detailed information on the potential beneficial effects of used therapeutic perspectives, means, art techniques, and therapist behavior is recommended to get a better insight into (un)successful art therapeutic elements.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.584685/fullart therapypsychosocial problemschildrenadolescentssystematic narrative review |
| spellingShingle | Liesbeth Bosgraaf Liesbeth Bosgraaf Liesbeth Bosgraaf Liesbeth Bosgraaf Marinus Spreen Kim Pattiselanno Susan van Hooren Susan van Hooren Susan van Hooren Art Therapy for Psychosocial Problems in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Narrative Review on Art Therapeutic Means and Forms of Expression, Therapist Behavior, and Supposed Mechanisms of Change Frontiers in Psychology art therapy psychosocial problems children adolescents systematic narrative review |
| title | Art Therapy for Psychosocial Problems in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Narrative Review on Art Therapeutic Means and Forms of Expression, Therapist Behavior, and Supposed Mechanisms of Change |
| title_full | Art Therapy for Psychosocial Problems in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Narrative Review on Art Therapeutic Means and Forms of Expression, Therapist Behavior, and Supposed Mechanisms of Change |
| title_fullStr | Art Therapy for Psychosocial Problems in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Narrative Review on Art Therapeutic Means and Forms of Expression, Therapist Behavior, and Supposed Mechanisms of Change |
| title_full_unstemmed | Art Therapy for Psychosocial Problems in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Narrative Review on Art Therapeutic Means and Forms of Expression, Therapist Behavior, and Supposed Mechanisms of Change |
| title_short | Art Therapy for Psychosocial Problems in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Narrative Review on Art Therapeutic Means and Forms of Expression, Therapist Behavior, and Supposed Mechanisms of Change |
| title_sort | art therapy for psychosocial problems in children and adolescents a systematic narrative review on art therapeutic means and forms of expression therapist behavior and supposed mechanisms of change |
| topic | art therapy psychosocial problems children adolescents systematic narrative review |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.584685/full |
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