Eternal Age: Art Therapy as a Means of Improving Quality of Life

Abstract

This human-subject study used a mixed methods research design to identify if participation in individual, group, and open studio art therapy sessions would improve the quality of life for older adults. Person centered care was used as a framework for the art therapy programming. The Brunnsviken Brief Quality of life scale (BBQ) was used as a pre and mid test intervention and provided a baseline measure of quality of life. It was hypothesized that there would be an increase in the BBQ scores after participation in a 16-week art therapy program. The average difference of individuals pre and mid BBQ scores were used to identify if a change in quality of life had occurred in the life areas of leisure, creativity, and learning through the art making process. This study assessed creativity and learning through art making and leisure as the time spent in the process. The results showed that the overall BBQ scores were not representative of the gains demonstrated, although there were notable increases in leisure, creativity, and learning. Additionally, companionship was found to be a key factor in quality of life. These findings provided support for the use of a person-centered approach to art therapy which may lead to an increase in quality of life for older adults. Future implications of this study include continuing to explore the correlations between art therapy and quality of life as a means of engaging older adults in meaningful and productive activities that foster self-esteem, autonomy, empowerment, and problem-solving skills.