The impact of theatre on empathy and self-esteem: a meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

This study presents the results of meta-analyses evaluating the effects of active theater on empathy and self-esteem. The effect size of the impact of theater-making on empathy showed that theater has a positive, although moderate influence on empathic abilities. The meta-analysis concerning self-esteem did not confirm the impact of active theater on the outcome in question, but this result should be treated with caution due to heterogeneity. The meta-regression, in which type of participants, control group activity, duration and frequency of interventions, type of measurement scale, group allocation method, setting, and publication year were controlled for, corroborated these results.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Narodowe Centrum Nauki [2017/01/X/HS2/01470].