Thesis
The role of individual art therapy in reducing disruptive behavior in a young adolescent male: a single case experimental study
Master of Arts (M.A.), Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
May 2001
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00003751
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to research the impact of the provision of individual art therapy, on reducing disruptive behaviors in a young adolescent male. Studies show that up to 55% of instructional time in class is lost due to minor classroom disturbances (Jones in Gottfredson, 1987). Since preliminary studies find that many schools do not provide adolescents with adequate means to express, explore, understand and cope with emotional and psychological issues (Campellone, 1985), the findings of this study could enhance the role of art therapy as an effective non threatening treatment tool for disruptive behavior. Although there are numerous writings on clinical experiences, there has been no published study showing reduction in disruptive behavior in adolescence, as being the result of art therapy interventions. There has also been little documentation of the emotional and behavioral changes that resulted from art therapy, in the adolescent population (Stanley, 1993). Most short term art therapy has focused on preadolescents. The research design was an N=1, single case experimental design spanning fourteen weeks. It was a pilot study looking at the efficacy of art therapy as a treatment tool for disruptive behaviors. Since the incidence of disruptive behavior disorders is far more in early adolescent males than in females (Kaplan & Sadock, 1998) the subject for this study was male. A teacher recorded the subject’s disruptive behavior on the IOWA Conners Teachers Rating scale twice a week throughout the study to record any changes in behavior. The hypothesis was that the provision of six individual art therapy sessions 11 (independent variable) for an adolescent exhibiting disruptive behavior would reduce the number of disruptive behaviors (dependent variable) the individual exhibits. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that the number of disruptive behaviors would be fewer immediately following each intervention (art therapy session). The study was conducted in an alternative high school in suburban Philadelphia. The results indicated that the disruptive behavior was significantly lower when measured immediately following the intervention. However no significant change was found in the disruptive behavior on analysis of the behavior pre and post intervention. On analysis of the developmental levels and artwork, the subject reported finding the sessions useful and some qualitative change was observed in the artwork from the first to the last session.
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Details
- Title
- The role of individual art therapy in reducing disruptive behavior in a young adolescent male
- Creators
- Girija Kaimal
- Contributors
- Nancy E. Gerber (Advisor) - Drexel University, Creative Arts TherapiesJudy Rubin (Advisor)Richard P. Malone (Advisor) - Hahnemann University Hospital
- Awarding Institution
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Publisher
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- viii, 133 pages, 2 unnumbered pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Creative Arts in Therapy (2000-2002); Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002); College of Nursing and Health Professions (2000-2002)
- Other Identifier
- 991021888069204721