The effects of online art therapy on emotional expression and psychological well-being among healthcare professionals and their children during the COVID-19 pandemic

TL;DR

Online art therapy helped healthcare workers and their children express emotions and improve well-being during the pandemic.

Contribution

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of online art therapy in improving emotional and psychological outcomes for healthcare professionals and their children.

Findings

Online art therapy significantly improved emotional expression and psychological well-being scores (p < 0.05).

Participants reported enhanced self-awareness, better family communication, and reduced anxiety.

Art therapy is a promising psychosocial support strategy during health crises like pandemics.

Abstract

To explore the effects of an online art therapy intervention on emotional expression and psychological well-being among healthcare professionals and their children aged 9–14 years during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A single-group pre-post mixed-methods design was employed. The intervention consisted of four online art therapy sessions with healthcare professionals and their children. Quantitative data were collected using validated scales and analyzed with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Qualitative data were analyzed with thematic analysis.

The intervention significantly improved emotional expression, psychological well-being, and mental health promotion scores (p < 0.05). Qualitative findings indicated enhanced self-awareness, improved family communication, and reduced anxiety.

Online art therapy is a promising psychosocial support strategy for healthcare professionals and their children during crises such as pandemics. Recent studies also highlight the effectiveness of art-based interventions in similar contexts. The importance of such approaches has also been emphasized by creative arts therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic These findings are consistent with recent evidence supporting the role of creative arts therapies for healthcare workers and children. Art therapy interventions delivered online during health crises can play a crucial role in mitigating the psychological burden experienced by healthcare professionals and their families. This study indicates that structured creative interventions improve emotional expression, enhance psychological well-being, and strengthen family communication. Future research should validate these findings with larger samples, longer follow-up, and randomized controlled designs to establish stronger evidence for integrating art therapy into public health preparedness strategies. A quasi-experimental mixed-methods design with a control group was employed. The intervention consisted of four online group art therapy sessions involving healthcare professionals and their children. Quantitative data were collected using the Emotion Expression Scale, Psychological Well-Being Scale, and Mental Health Promotion Scale before and after the intervention. Qualitative insights were gathered through session reflections and participant feedback. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The intervention led to a significant improvement in emotional expression, psychological well-being, and mental health promotion scores among participants (p < 0.05). Qualitative findings indicated enhanced self-awareness, strengthened family communication, and reduced anxiety among both children and parents. Online art therapy appears to be a promising method for mitigating psychological distress and promoting emotional resilience in healthcare workers and their children during crisis conditions. Integration of creative therapeutic modalities into psychosocial support systems is strongly recommended for future public health emergencies. These findings are consistent with recent evidence supporting the role of creative arts therapies for healthcare workers and children.