The Role Of Art Therapy In Enhancing Mental Health Of Children With Chronic Illnesses

This study explores the effectiveness of art therapy in improving the mental health of children with chronic illnesses. The primary objective was to evaluate its impact on reducing psychological distress and enhancing quality of life, while examining its interdisciplinary applications in psychology, health sciences, educational sciences, and management. A systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted, analyzing peer-reviewed articles published between ۲۰۱۰ and ۲۰۲۴ from PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO, selected for their extensive coverage of health and psychological literature. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies involving children aged ۵–۱۸ with chronic conditions (e.g., cancer, diabetes), using art therapy as the primary intervention, and measuring mental health outcomes (e.g., anxiety, depression). Sixteen studies were included, assessed for quality using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool. Results indicated that, across the ۱۶ studies, art therapy significantly reduced anxiety by an average of ۷۳% (۹۵% CI: ۶۵–۸۱, p < ۰.۰۵) and depression by ۶۵% (۹۵% CI: ۵۸–۷۲, p < ۰.۰۵), while improving quality of life by ۶۰% (۹۵% CI: ۵۲–۶۸). Social skills also improved notably. Based on reviewed studies (Malchiodi, ۲۰۱۲), the average cost of art therapy sessions was $۲۵, approximately ۴۰% less than cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) at $۶۰ per session (Slayton et al., ۲۰۱۰). The main limitations were the heterogeneity of intervention designs and small sample sizes in the reviewed studies, suggesting the need for large-scale longitudinal research. The findings highlight the importance of integrating art therapy into pediatric mental health care frameworks, particularly in resource-limited settings, offering a cost-effective, accessible intervention for improving children’s well-being.

کلیدواژه ها:

Art therapy ، mental health ، chronic illness ، children ، cost-effectiveness