ZINES: A Survey to Explore Therapeutic Benefits

Abstract

This study explored existing literature on zines and zine culture as it relates to art therapy and mental health and aimed to investigate the benefits that members of this culture experience from participating. A mixed-method survey with qualitative and quantitative questions was conducted with adult participants who self-identified as makers and/or collectors of zines. The findings of the survey reinforced the prevalence of overlap between readers and makers in the zine community. They demonstrated a large representation of LGBTQ+ identities within zine culture and wider popularity for zines in emerging adults. Benefits participants reported experiencing included creative expression, connecting with others, and seeing representations of others like themselves. Personal narratives and visual arts were the most common themes for zines and were used in combination. The gap in the literature suggests that more research on the topic of zines in art therapy would be beneficial. The findings from the literature and survey suggest that zines may be well received by and beneficial for adolescents and emerging adults, especially those with marginalized gender and sexual identities.