An Expressive Art Group Intervention for Sexually Abused Adolescent Females
OBJECTIVE:
South
Africa has a high prevalence of sexual abuse of children and adolescents. Among
the numerous adverse consequences of sexual abuse is the difficulty survivors
may experience in developing positive self-esteem and maintaining positive
relationships. In a low resource setting, an expressive art group intervention
tailored to female adolescents who have been sexually abused was implemented
and its value explored.
METHOD:
Six
adolescents met for 10 weekly sessions which included expressive art
activities, followed by reflective group discussions. The value of the
intervention was explored using a qualitative research design with limited
quantitative data.
RESULTS:
The
participants reported that the group intervention relieved their sense of
isolation and contributed to their ability to express emotions and develop
self-awareness. Participants reported more positive self-esteem and improved
interpersonal closeness. The intervention helped participants to find new
meaning in painful experiences which contributed to personal growth.
CONCLUSIONS:
The
group dynamics, expressive art activities and reflective group discussions
contributed to the therapeutic value of the intervention. The expressive art
group intervention showed value as an alternative therapeutic strategy in a low
resource setting for female adolescents who have experienced sexual abuse. An
experimental design could follow to confirm the effectiveness of the
intervention.
- 1 Department of Psychology , University of Pretoria , South Africa.
- J Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2015 Dec;27(3):199-213. doi: 10.2989/17280583.2015.1125356.
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