Designing and assessing of an art-based intervention for undocumented migrants

ABSTRACT

Background

Undocumented immigrants and refugees are more likely to suffer from psychosocial disorders.

Methodology

In this pilot study, an art-based intervention is described and assessed, with a sample of 11undocumented immigrants who recently came to southern Spain on a small boat. The art-based intervention is assessed using a pre-post design and four questionnaires, which consist of The General Health Questionnaire, Beck’s Depression Inventory, the Barcelona Immigrant Stress Scale and Carol Ryff’s Psychological Well Being Scale. Furthermore, five participants were interviewed before and after the intervention and a thematic analysis of the transcriptions was carried out.

Results

A significant reduction of depressive symptoms with a large effect size was found. An increase of reflexive discourse and the feeling of belonging after the intervention was also observed.

Conclusions

The study suggests that the art-based intervention decreased depressive symptoms and stress, redirecting the narratives of the participants towards the future and increasing the sense of community.

KEYWORDS:

• Undocumented immigrants
• mental health
• psychological disorders
• art-based intervention

Disclosure statement

There are no financial conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This research was carried out within the framework of the research project funded by the Spanish Government [PSI2016–80112–P] entitled “Challenges of the self: Identity reconstruction in situations of inequality and social exclusion”.