Art or Fart: Does Art Therapy Have an Effect on Stress Levels?
Poster Number
22A
Format
Poster Presentation
Faculty Mentor Name
Zsolt Palatinus
Faculty Mentor Department
Psychology
Graduate Student Mentor Name
Leah Ward
Abstract/Artist Statement
Previous research demonstrated positive effects with utilizing gestalt art principles to alleviate stress in sexually abused women (Pretorius, G. & Pfeifer, N., 2010). Our study examines if gestalt principles can reduce stress levels as opposed other images that could possibly evoke stress within a more generalized population like college students. Our preliminary study consisted of two conditions, gestalt principles and chaotic art. Participants took a pre-assessment questionnaire to measure initial stress levels. Then, subjects were randomly assigned to view a video consisting of images that either depicted gestalt principles or chaotic art. After viewing the images, subjects took a post-assessment questionnaire to analyze the effect of the type of art they were shown. An independent samples t-test was conducted, the data revealed a significant difference between the effects of gestalt principles and the effects of chaotic art. To further our investigation, a third group was added and consisted of “random” images that did not utilize gestalt principles nor were they considered to be chaotic forms of art. Each individual was still prompted to complete a pre- and post- assessment to measure their stress levels before and after viewing the images. Data collection is ongoing. Participants are 30 University of the Pacific students recruited from SONA Systems. Data will be analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA statistical test. Final results, graphs depicting our data, limitations, and discussion will be included on our poster.
Location
DeRosa University Center, Ballroom
Start Date
29-4-2017 10:00 AM
End Date
29-4-2017 12:00 PM
Art or Fart: Does Art Therapy Have an Effect on Stress Levels?
DeRosa University Center, Ballroom
Previous research demonstrated positive effects with utilizing gestalt art principles to alleviate stress in sexually abused women (Pretorius, G. & Pfeifer, N., 2010). Our study examines if gestalt principles can reduce stress levels as opposed other images that could possibly evoke stress within a more generalized population like college students. Our preliminary study consisted of two conditions, gestalt principles and chaotic art. Participants took a pre-assessment questionnaire to measure initial stress levels. Then, subjects were randomly assigned to view a video consisting of images that either depicted gestalt principles or chaotic art. After viewing the images, subjects took a post-assessment questionnaire to analyze the effect of the type of art they were shown. An independent samples t-test was conducted, the data revealed a significant difference between the effects of gestalt principles and the effects of chaotic art. To further our investigation, a third group was added and consisted of “random” images that did not utilize gestalt principles nor were they considered to be chaotic forms of art. Each individual was still prompted to complete a pre- and post- assessment to measure their stress levels before and after viewing the images. Data collection is ongoing. Participants are 30 University of the Pacific students recruited from SONA Systems. Data will be analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA statistical test. Final results, graphs depicting our data, limitations, and discussion will be included on our poster.