Effectiveness of painting therapy on anxiety in children with specific learning disabilities

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health disorders in children with disabilities. Children with abnormal anxiety may have difficulty with verbal tasks. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of painting therapy on anxiety in children with specific learning disabilities in Kermanshah city in 2019.

The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design and a control group. The statistical population included all female students with learning disabilities in Kermanshah, Iran in 2019. The sample consisted of 30 children with specific learning disabilities selected by convenience sampling and divided into experimental and control groups (n=15 per group). The research instrument included the Spence Childrenchr('39')s Anxiety Scale (SCAS). First, both experimental and control groups completed the pre-test questionnaires. Then, the children of the experimental groups received painting therapy for eight sessions (two 45-minute sessions per weak). The follow-up was performed after 45 days. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 21.

The mean±SD of the anxiety in the experimental group in pre-test and post-test phases was 142.26±10.95 and 97.26±10.95, respectively, while the anxiety score of the control group in the pre-test and test phases was 138.60±11.10 and 143.93±10.55, respectively (p<0.01). Besides, the post-test scores had no significant difference in the follow-up scores.

Based on the results, painting therapy reduced anxiety in children with disabilities. Therefore, it can be concluded that painting therapy can decrease anxiety in children with disabilities. These results were true until the follow-up phase.