Integrating Drawing and Mindfulness to Reduce Anxiety in Adolescents: A Pilot Feasibility Study

Margaret Penner

Anxiety symptom onset peaks in adolescence (Essua et al., 2018). Mindfulness meditation has been shown to reduce anxiety (Keng et al., 2011), yet benefits may be diminished due to difficulty maintaining engagement (Lymeus et al., 2019). This study of 84 adolescents used a novel drawing-based intervention integrating an approachable and tangible activity with mindfulness elements. Initial results indicated that this guided drawing intervention bolstered physiological emotion regulation and reduced anxiety symptoms. Next steps include comparing the guided drawing intervention with free drawing and simple drawing control conditions.

Major: 
Psychology
Exhibition Category: 
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Exhibition Format: 
Poster Presentation
Campus: 
University Park
Faculty Sponsor: 
Sarah Myruski
Poster Number: 
30