Thinking Outside the Box: Psychological Needs of Art Students Compared With Traditional Students

Abstract

Very little information exists regarding the mental health needs of student artists. This study compared psychological symptoms and diagnoses of college students in 3 conservatories (n = 607) with those of college students in traditional colleges and universities (n = 87,105). The study found no difference in psychological symptoms except for increased stress among art students. The study also found that art students in these conservatories were more likely to make use of counseling services than students at traditional schools.

KEYWORDS:

• artists
• counselor bias
• mental illness

Additional information

Notes on contributors

D. Paige Bentley Greason

D. Paige Bentley Greason is now affiliated with Wake Forest University School of Medicine.