The purposes of this study were to apply to a group art therapy program in an effort to explore the effect of it on isolated children\'s depressive traits, peer relationships and school adjustment. The subjects in this study were the 48 children of high isolated rate who were selected from among 520 fourth graders. Three groups were randomly assigned to 16 children each: an experimental, comparative, and control groups. The experimental group participated in the group art therapy program, and the comparative group took part in a group counseling program for interpersonal relationships. Both programs were conducted as planned in 12 sessions, once a week, 60 minutes each, and no treatments were taken to thecontrol group.
The instruments used in this study to make a quantitative analysis were depression, peer relationship and school adjustment inventories. As for data analysis, statistical data on mean and standard deviation were obtained by calculating their scores in the pre and posttest, and ANCOVA was used to analyze if there were any differences in mean scores. And then Tukey test was carried out.
The findings of the study were first, the group art therapy program was effective at decreasing the depressive traits of the isolated children. Second, the group art therapy program showed a significant effect on bolstering the peer relationship of the isolated children. Third, the group art therapy program indicated a significant effect on boosting the school adjustability of the isolated children. Therefore, the group art therapy program could be effective at alleviating the depressive traits of the isolated children and bolstering their peer relationship and school adjustment.
Key Words : group art therapy program, isolated children, depressive disposition, peer relationship, school adjustment