The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of person-centered art therapy on self-esteem
and peer relationships for children of low socioeconomic status. Methods: A quasi-experimental with
non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was conducted. The participants were 75 children of
low socioeconomic status at three community children welfare centers in G city. The experimental group 1
received the person-centered art therapy program, and the experimental group 2 received the art therapy,
but the control group did not received the program. Data were collected from December 15th, 2014 to April
24th, 2015 through two self-administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Also,
the qualitative data analysis was arranged by session through the different stages and individuals according
to thematic content analysis. Results: After the intervention, children of low socioeconomic status in the
experimental groups 1 and, 2 and the control group reported significant differences in self- esteem
(F=31.999, p<.001), and peer relationship (F=11.382, p<.001). Also, in the qualitative data analysis,
self-esteem and peer relationship increased by changing art in a positive manner before, during, and after
the individual's evaluation. Conclusion: Further study should be done with larger and varied samples to
confirm the effects of the person-centered art therapy program for children of low socioeconomic status.