(2026) Science and education, 2, 56-62. Odessa.
Svitlana Sytnik,
Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor,
Professor at the Department of the Theory and Methodology of Practical Psychology,
The state institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky”,
26, Staroportofrankivska Str., Odesa, Ukraine,
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5875-919X
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ART THERAPY IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRECTION OF STRESS STATES UNDER WARTIME CONDITIONS
SUMMARY:
The relevance of the study is обусловлена the growing need for psychological assistance for people who have been living for a long time under conditions of military threat and experiencing chronic stress. Of particular importance is the search for psychocorrective approaches that combine safety, accessibility, emotional gentleness of influence, and the ability to reduce tension, distress, and manifestations of emotional exhaustion. One such approach is art therapy, which creates conditions for the indirect expression of experiences, the symbolization of traumatic experience, and the restoration of the individual’s internal resources. The aim of the article was to empirically verify the effectiveness of art therapy as a means of correcting stress states in individuals who have been living for a long time under wartime conditions. The study involved 42 individuals aged 30 to 45 years who resided in Odesa region and experienced constant stress related to wartime events. The participants were divided into an experimental group and a control group. In the experimental group, a two-month art therapy program was implemented, including 16 group sessions conducted twice a week. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Mental Distress Scale, the Impact of Event Scale, and the SAN method were used. The results of the study showed that the experimental group demonstrated statistically significant positive changes in indicators of well-being, activity, mood, perceived stress, and mental distress. The most pronounced effect was found when comparing the magnitude of changes between the experimental and control groups. At the same time, the impact on symptoms associated with the traumatic event was less pronounced. The obtained results confirm the effectiveness of art therapy as a means of correcting current stress states under wartime conditions and indicate the feasibility of its use in psychological support programs for the population.
KEYWORDS:
art therapy, psychological correction, psycho-emotional state, stress states, mental distress
FULL TEXT:
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