Research in pediatric medical art therapy is comprised largely of case studies. The motivation for this study was to contribute quantitative data to the literature on art therapy with children who experienced hospitalization and medical treatment. The study question focused on the efficacy of art therapy in reducing the anxiety of hospitalized pediatric patients. To address this issue, a subgroup of pediatric patients was selected; a single subject research design was initiated with a homogenous group of 6 to 9 year-old female patients hospitalized for treatment of sickle cell disease. In addition to extensive qualitative narrative, three instruments were utilized: (a) an Anxiety Behavior Schedule, (b) the Children's Health Locus of Control Scale, and (c) the Children's Hope Scale. The intervention phase of the study included art therapy interventions designed to familiarize subjects' with the hospital environment, provide opportunities for control and expression, and respond to subjects' established cognitive structures regarding their medical condition and treatment. The results of the study support the efficacy of art therapy in two very important ways: First, all of the subjects demonstrated reduced externality of locus of control following art therapy intervention. Second, the observable anxiety data on subject 2 definitively confirmed reduction in anxiety due to art therapy intervention, with statistical significance established at the .05 level. Finally, one subject's subsequent hospitalization provided the opportunity to collect follow-up data; this data confirmed that the reduction in anxiety behaviors resulting from the art therapy protocol was sustained over time. Extensive qualitative narratives of the subjects' experiences were provided. Implications for future practice and further research are discussed. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Art Education in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Degree Awarded: Fall Semester 2003. / Date of Defense: November 10, 2003. / Pediatrics, Arts In Medicine, Psychological Well-Being, Sickle Cell Disease, Art Therapy, Pediatric Patients / Includes bibliographical references. / Marcia L. Rosal, Professor Directing Dissertation; Nick Mazza, Outside Committee Member; Betty Jo Troeger, Committee Member; Tom Anderson, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_169030 |
| Contributors | Wolf Bordonaro, Gaelynn Patricia (authoraut), Rosal, Marcia L. (professor directing dissertation), Mazza, Nick (outside committee member), Troeger, Betty Jo (committee member), Anderson, Tom (committee member), Department of Art Education (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
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