Impact of Group Art Therapy on the Quality of Life for Acquired Brain Injury Survivors

Abstract

This preexperimental comparison group study (N = 19) examined group art therapy as a means for increasing communication and socialization, and enhancing quality of life for people (51–93 years old) with acquired brain injury. Participants self-selected a 10-week program according to interest that was either an art therapy group (n = 11) or the regular communication skills group (n = 8), which served as a control and was facilitated by speech-language pathologists and communicative disorders assistants. Results from pre- and postmeasures did not show statistically significant between-group differences. However, qualitative findings from observations, artwork, and feedback questionnaires indicated that group art therapy increased socialization and improved emotional state for participants.