College
College of Arts and Sciences
Mentor Information
Dr. Olukemi Akintewe
Description
Art therapy involves the use of art representations in clinical and mental health care. Art mediums such as painting, dance, and movement can be interventions for diagnoses such as gynecological or breast cancer (GBC). GBC incidence is highest among women 45-65, and art therapy has shown potential to improve their quality of life (QoL). Art therapy’s impact on QoL is often assessed by measuring physical and mental health, coping and adjustment capabilities, healthcare relationships, and social life. Using the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted with an initial 181 articles extracted from multiple journals of psychology. A final selection of 45 articles were included for full text analysis for data pertaining to art therapy and quality of life for GBC patients. Studies show improvement during and after art therapy implementation. Analysis of these 45 studies indicates creative interventions bolster physical and mental health, with longitudinal data confirming sustained improvements in self-image and quality of life measured by WHOQOL-BREF and EORTC QLQ-BR23 questionnaires. Mindfulness-based and structured art therapy demonstrated clinical efficacy in reducing depression and anxiety via ANCOVA and ANOVA analyses of PAI and questionnaire scales. Visual indicators (DAP test) tracked positive post-surgical self-perception, though some studies noted progressive decline post-intervention. This suggests that additional studies are needed to solidify the feasibility of art therapy as a source of therapy for cancer patients, as results show the quality of life of GBC women improving with diverse creative modalities in the form of therapeutic care.
Benefits of Art Therapy on Quality of Life in Middle Aged Women with Gynecological and/or Breast cancer
Art therapy involves the use of art representations in clinical and mental health care. Art mediums such as painting, dance, and movement can be interventions for diagnoses such as gynecological or breast cancer (GBC). GBC incidence is highest among women 45-65, and art therapy has shown potential to improve their quality of life (QoL). Art therapy’s impact on QoL is often assessed by measuring physical and mental health, coping and adjustment capabilities, healthcare relationships, and social life. Using the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted with an initial 181 articles extracted from multiple journals of psychology. A final selection of 45 articles were included for full text analysis for data pertaining to art therapy and quality of life for GBC patients. Studies show improvement during and after art therapy implementation. Analysis of these 45 studies indicates creative interventions bolster physical and mental health, with longitudinal data confirming sustained improvements in self-image and quality of life measured by WHOQOL-BREF and EORTC QLQ-BR23 questionnaires. Mindfulness-based and structured art therapy demonstrated clinical efficacy in reducing depression and anxiety via ANCOVA and ANOVA analyses of PAI and questionnaire scales. Visual indicators (DAP test) tracked positive post-surgical self-perception, though some studies noted progressive decline post-intervention. This suggests that additional studies are needed to solidify the feasibility of art therapy as a source of therapy for cancer patients, as results show the quality of life of GBC women improving with diverse creative modalities in the form of therapeutic care.
