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Date of Award

Spring 5-19-2024

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Major

Psychology

First Advisor

Alisha Holland

Abstract

Effective emotion regulation (ER) is critical for maintaining mental health and overall well-being. Art-making has been shown to boost emotions and help people cope with daily stressors, life transitions, and various mental health diagnoses. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of two of the most accessible and widely used art mediums––graphite pencils and clay––in promoting short-term ER and improving affect in college students. Following a negative mood induction, Trinity College undergraduate participants (n = 62) were randomly assigned to a crossword puzzle intervention (control) or one of two art-making interventions: drawing or clay work. ER was measured by the Emotion Regulation Strategies for Artistic Creative Activities Scale (ERS-ACA) and Self-Expression and Emotion Regulation in Art Therapy Scale (SERATS). Changes in affect were measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) across three time points. Results indicated that art-making, especially clay work, is an effective ER tool for college students. Both art-making interventions reduced negative affect more than the control intervention, but only clay work displayed a significant decrease compared to the control. In addition, only clay work significantly increased positive affect post-intervention. There were no significant differences in the measures of emotion regulation between the art-making and control conditions, nor between drawing and clay work. However, avoidance ER strategies were used significantly more with clay work. Future research should investigate the long-term implications of art-making on emotion regulation and affect, as well as the possibility of avoidance as a mediator of emotion regulation during clay work.

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