TITLE:
Impact of Integrated Arts Therapy: An Intervention Program for Young Female Offenders in Correctional Institution
AUTHORS:
Kristi Kõiv, Lii Kaudne
KEYWORDS:
Integrated Arts Therapy, Young Female Offenders, Quasi-Experimental Design, Behavioral Problems
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.6 No.1,
January
13,
2015
ABSTRACT: The aim
of the study was to evaluate the impact of program of integrated arts therapy on
young female delinquents’ who experienced emotional and behavioral problems in
a correctional institution. The outlined intervention was introduced as part of
a curriculum involving art therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, and
dance/movement therapy sessions that were facilitated twice a week during a
5-week period. A quasi-experimental design was used where an intervention group
(N = 12) and a control group (N = 17) members aged 14 - 17 years were evaluated
at two time points. A self-report version of Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaire (SDQ) and a modified Behavior Checklist (BC) were used prior to
and after the intervention to screen for conduct, emotional, peer problems,
hyperactivity, and prosocial behavior, and to investigate the frequencies of
aggressive, withdrawn and prosocial behavior. There were statistically
significant reductions in three of the five emotional and behavioral problems
measured by the SDQ, including conduct and emotional problems, an increase of
prosocial behavior, and significant differences in two domains measured by the
BC: decrease in frequencies of aggressive behavior and increase of prosocial behavior.