The Role of Expressive Arts Therapy in Enhancing Emotional Intelligence and Resilience among Adolescents in Government-Aided School
Author : Mrunmayee Kulkarni, Urvashi Makharia and Rama J
Abstract :
Adolescence involves stressful emotional, cognitive, and social changes. Students of government-aided schools face additional financial and infrastructural challenges. This study investigated the effectiveness of Expressive Arts Therapy (EXA) in improving emotional intelligence (EI) and resilience in adolescents aged 13 to 14 years. The study used a mixed-method pre-test and post-test case-control design with 68 participants. Each group was split evenly between the intervention and control groups. The six-month intervention involved structured sessions that involved interventions such as visual arts, movement, drama, and storytelling that facilitated emotional expression and social engagement. The quantitative data was collected through the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire—Adolescent Short Form (TEIQue-ASF) and the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-28). The results showed there was no significant increase in EI and resilience in the intervention group based on the pre-test and post-test scores (p > 0.05). Quantitative results show that the EXA interventions had a limited impact on participants of the case group. Qualitative results through session observations and the participants' reflections pointed out that the participants were better at perceiving and expressing their feelings, as well as had developed a sense of empathy towards their peers and themselves. Such findings point out that despite the fact that EXA may not statistically bring about changes quickly, it encourages the internal development of changes in emotion, coupled with an observed advancement of social skills. Hence, EXA can be identified as useful as a complementary modality for improving emotional wellness among adolescents, particularly in a government-aided school environment.
Keywords :
Adolescents, Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, Expressive Arts Therapy.
