The Effect of Medium and Instruction While Creating Mandalas

Abstract

This randomized controlled study examined the effects of creating open circle mandalas with divergent instruction type (distraction and reflection) and medium type (resistive and fluid) on state anxiety, mood, and mindfulness. The design followed a 2 (instruction type) × 2 (medium type) × 3 (time) mixed experimental design. Reflective writing tasks were analyzed for linguistic expression. Results indicated anxiety reduction and improved mood across all conditions as evidenced by explicit assessment. Implicit assessments determined enhanced mindfulness for reflection instruction type and fluid medium type. Practical connections to the Expressive Therapies Continuum (Lusebrink, 1990) and Media Dimensions Variable (Kagin & Lusebrink, 1978) frameworks are discussed.

Keywords:

• Anxiety
• mood
• mindfulness
• medium
• instruction type
• mandalas
• expressive therapies continuum

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ashley Hartman

Ashley Hartman, PhD, LCAT, LPC, ATR-BC, is an Assistant Professor of Art Therapy and

C. Estelle Campenni

C. Estelle Campenni, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychology, both at Marywood University, Scranton, PA.