"This study examined the effects of a group art therapy program using reality therapy on the gratitude tendency, hopelessness depression, and life satisfaction level of the elderly. The participants of the study were 26 inmates of a B nursing home in city J, Chungbuk Province, all of them from the age of 75 to 92 with chronic illnesses. They were divided into two groups: the experimental of 13 inmates who participated in the therapy program and the control of 13 who did not participate in the therapy program. A total of 23 sessions lasted once a week, each session 90 minutes or longer from Oct 26th, 2009 until May 3rd, 2010. Participants' gratitude tendency, hopelessness depression, and life satisfaction level were measured with test instruments. An Analysis of Covariance was computed to examine the effects of the program. The findings of the study are as follows. First, group art therapy combined with reality therapy positively influenced gratitude tendency of the elderly. Second, the therapy was effective in reducing hopelessness depression of the participants. Third, the therapy was also effective in raising life satisfaction level of the participants.
Key Words : Reality Therapy, Gratitude Tendency, Hopelessness Depression, Life Satisfaction Level"