Effects of Group Art Therapy on Depression and Self-Esteem of Children from Low-Income Families

집단미술치료가 저소득층 아동의 우울과 자아존중감에 미치는 영향

Children from low-income families are vulnerable to variable psychological and emotional stress related to financial issues and dysfunctional families. The subjects were 15 1st to 3rd graders who were low on the Self Esteem Scale (SES). They were attending an after-school center for elementary school students. They participated in three art therapy groups from April to October 2005. Children's depressive symptoms and self-esteem were assessed using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and an observational check-list. Results showed that the group art therapy program brought about significant effects on increasing self-esteem of the children and reducing depressive symptoms, showing that group art therapy can facilitate emotional and psycho-social growth of children from low-income families and can be developed in family-based community programs.