The purpose of this study was to provide mandala group art therapy to schizophrenes with insufficient communication competences and low self-esteem so that they could get rid of suppressed emotion and get positive self-esteem.
Four patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia by a psychiatrist according to the
DSM-IV(1995) diagnostic standards and who were receiving long-term hospital treatment
over ten years at the D Mental Health Center in Jeju participated in this research. A total
of 20 sessions were implemented, 2 sessions a week and 60 minutes per session, from
February 23 through April 28, 2005.
The results of this study were as follows:
First, as for quantitative changes in self-esteem, there were statistically significant differences between pretest and post-test of t-test. This seems to be because mandala exerted positive effects on self-esteem by helping get physical and mental stability, activating self-expression as sessions proceeded, and helping understand self and others through group activities.
Second, as for qualitative changes in self-esteem, there were positive differences between
K-HPT pretest and post-test.
Third, as for qualitative changes in self-esteem, there were positive differences in mandala after analysis was performed by sessions. This is because free expression through active imagination based on mandala provided an opportunity to get rid of suppressed emotion and make self-expression, thus assisting establishment of self-esteem. In conclusion, mandala group art therapy allowed schizophrenes with lack of ability to express their emotion and low self-esteem to express their own emotion, consequently exerting positive effects on improvement of self-esteem.
Key Words : Mandala Group Art Therapy, Self-esteem, Schizophrenia