Before and after: A mother and infant painting group

Abstract

This group case study was written by the authors as an investigation into the effects of a 20 week art therapy painting group on parents' self-reported measures of postnatal depression, self-esteem and relationship with their infants. Four parents completed validated and reliable questionnaires to assess postnatal depression, self-esteem and the quality of their relationships with their infants pre and post group. Statistical analysis indicated that group participants experienced a reduction in postnatal depression symptoms, significantly increased self-esteem and improvements in relationship with their infants, and these findings were corroborated by the group co-facilitators' clinical observations. We discuss these findings with reference to relevant literature, highlighting the exploratory, expressive and facilitative elements of painting groups on both verbal and non-verbal levels. We also present relevant literature relating to postnatal depression, and the potential long-term impact of postnatal depression on children's mental health and well-being. This article concludes that the current study indicates clear benefits to parents and their infants from art therapy painting group attendance, and outlines the implications and directions for future research.

Keywords:

• Attachment
• postnatal depression
• infant mental health

Notes

¹ EPNDS is a widely used screening tool, developed to identify women who have PND. Items on the scale correspond to various clinical depression symptoms, such as guilt feelings, sleep disturbance, low energy and suicidal ideation.

² Self Reporting Evaluations are basic evaluation tools used for measuring improvements in parents' self-esteem and quality of their relationships.

³ SOUL is a flexible toolkit offering a method of measuring progression in outcomes such as confidence, self-esteem and problem solving.

⁴ All family names are pseudonyms.

⁵ This includes one father's evaluation data.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carl Arroyo

Biographical details

Between 2008 and 2011 Carl Arroyo ran mother and infant painting groups for Sure Start children's centres in South Wales and Gloucestershire. Carl is currently a co-applicant on a Welsh Children and Young Peoples Research Network Research Development Group which is bidding for a substantive grant to deliver a mother and infant painting groups pilot research trial. He is also presently employed on Derby and Sheffield Universities Mutual Recovery – Birth Shock research programme, and works as an Art Therapist in various settings including a Priory Group private psychiatric hospital, and step down home, and a school for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Carl is also an exhibiting artist.

Neil Fowler

Neil Fowler has worked in the field of adult mental health for more than ten years since completing his undergraduate degree in Psychology. Most recently he worked in a hospital psychology department for the Priory Group. While in this role he completed an MSc in Health Psychology and is working towards professional accreditation. His particular areas of interest include cognitive biases in health related decision making and the physical wellbeing of psychiatric inpatients. He is currently employed by Cardiff University as a member of a team applying genetics, neuroimaging, behavioural and psychological data to improve the accuracy and treatment of psychiatric diagnoses.