Art therapy for immigrant Korean youth: indications of outcomes, acceptability and satisfaction

ABSTRACT

Background

Art therapy is useful for immigrant youth to reduce depression, anxiety and stress through visualised images.

Aim

This study determined indications of psychological outcomes, acceptability and satisfaction of art therapy among Korean immigrant youth.

Methods

A quasi-experiment (one-group pre-, post-test) design, with 25 young people (13–24 years old) in the Republic of Korea receiving five weekly sessions of art therapy from November 2020 to March 2021. Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 and Perceived Stress Scale were used as psychological measurements to determine the programme's indications of outcomes; acceptability and satisfaction were measured.

Results

The level of depression severity and perceived stress level was improved and the level of depression severity was maintained at the three-month follow-up as a result of art therapy. According to the acceptance rate, 79.2% found it useful and 78.2% found it enjoyable.

Conclusions

Art therapy for Korean immigrant youth has the promising result. However, extensive study is necessary to rigorously examine its effectiveness and develop interventions suitable across cultures.

Implications for practice

This study showed that art therapy could be an acceptable and efficacious therapeutic mental health intervention for immigrant youth who face challenges with verbal communication and undergo acculturative stress.

Plain-language summary

This study was conducted to examine the outcomes of psychological measurements, and acceptability of, as well as satisfaction with, five sessions of art therapy delivered to 25 Korean immigrant youths (13–24 years old). The study found positive changes perceived by immigrant youths. The levels of depression severity and perceived stress were improved, and the reduced depression severity was maintained at the three-month follow-up. The study also reported art therapy as 79.2% found it useful and 78.2% found it enjoyable, contributing to their psychological stability. Overall, art therapy could be an acceptable and efficacious therapeutic mental health intervention for immigrant youths, who face challenges with verbal communication and experience acculturative stress.

KEYWORDS:

• Art therapy
• immigrant
• youth
• mental health
• depression
• stress
• anxiety

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Soo-Yeon Kim

Soo-Yeon Kim, MA, received her Master’s degree in clinical art therapy from the Graduate School of Art Therapy, Cha University, and she is a PhD candidate at the Department of Medicine, Graduate School, Cha University. And she works as an art therapist at a child development rehabilitation hospital and multicultural alternative schools. She has published art therapy articles on Immigrant youth, Chronic Pain, Mourning.

Young-Ok Lee

Young-Ok Lee, MA, received her Master’s degree in expressive art therapy from the Graduate School of Professional Therapeutic Technology, Seoul Women’s University, and she is a PhD candidate at the Department of Medicine, Graduate School, Cha University. She has operated a private Art Therapy Studio for professionals, adults & children in both individual and groups.

Seo-Young Lee

Seo-Young Lee, MA, received her Master’s degree in clinical art therapy from the Graduate School of Art Therapy, Cha University, and she is a PhD candidate at the Department of Medicine, Graduate School, Cha University. She works as an art therapist and art teacher working at elementary and middle schools.

Min Sun Kim

Min Sun Kim, MA, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Department Psychology and Psychotherapy, Dankook University. Her main research areas are lifelong career development, trauma at work, discrimination against minorities and mental health and counsellor education.

Han Choi

Han Choi, MSc, PhD, ATR, is an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Art Therapy, Cha University. He received a doctorate in Clinical Art Therapy in 2015. His main research areas are Art Therapy, Nature Therapy and Public Health. He has published articles on art therapy in healthcare (major depressive disorder, tic disorder, chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, infertility) and art therapy with marginalised populations.