Author(s)

Wanxin Zhang ¹, Xue Feng ¹, Quanlun Li ², Yanlei Chen ³, Yuhan Cai ³, Ran Xiao ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ School of information and management, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
² Nanning Mental Health Association, Nanning Guangxi, China
³ Art Healing Institute, Inheriting Future Institute for Culture (IFIC), Beijing, China

Corresponding Author

Xue Feng

ABSTRACT

Single-Session art healing programs, which aims at deploying arts to enhance psychological well-beings of individuals, families and communities, have risen markedly in popularity across China recently. However, research on the effects of single-session art healing programs in China is still limited, likely because the development of art healing programs is still in the nascent stage. We embedded a series of (4 activities) single-session art healing workshop in large outdoor art and culture festivals and on-campus events open to university students. Each of the four workshops centred on one modality, such as oil-painting, doodling, music or dance. A pre-post quasi-experimental design was applied, with 26 participants completing surveys using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S-6) and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). We used paired t-tests to analyze the changes of STAI-S-6 and MAAS scores before and after each intervention. Participants predominantly comprised by women (80.8%), young adults (18-30 years, 50%), and highly educated individuals (with bachelor's degree or above, 85%). The study showed a significant reduction in state anxiety (p = 0.003). After intervention, all four groups showed improvements on mindfulness levels, though no significant change (p > 0.05) was identified. This study provides evidence supporting the feasibility and effect of single-session art healing interventions in alleviating state anxiety among general populations in art healing practice in China and highlighted the importance of integrating art healing, public activities, and mental health services for better mental care.

KEYWORDS

Art healing, Single-session, Anxiety, Mindful awareness, Chinese Community

CITE THIS PAPER

Wanxin Zhang, Xue Feng, Quanlun Li, Yanlei Chen, Yuhan Cai, Ran Xiao, Evaluating Single-Session Art Healing Workshops: Effects on Anxiety and Mindful Awareness across Diverse Chinese Community Settings. Applied & Educational Psychology (2025) Vol. 6: 11-20. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/appep.2025.060402.

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