Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of creative plastic activity in the art therapy on cardiovascular responses to stress. Subjects were 60 high school senior students, and were randomly assigned to art therapy, art education, or simple repetitive task groups (n=20 each group). Subjects in the art therapy group were allowed to express their feelings by using clay and the art education group was asked to shape clay to look like a picture of a completed clay work. The simple repetitive task group performed a task to thread beads on a string. After measuring baseline blood pressure and heart rate, subjects performed experimental tasks as assigned, and then their blood pressure and heart rate were measured again. Lastly, they completed a self-report evaluation form about the experimental task. The results showed that creative plastic activity in the art therapy group and the simple repetitive task decreased systolic blood pressure. The difference between pre- and post-task systolic blood pressures was significantly greater in the art therapy group than the other two groups. The difference between pre- and post-task systolic blood pressures was statistically significant related to creativeness and self-expression. The limitations of this study and future research were also discussed.

• Keywords: Art therapy, Cardiovascular responses to stress