Drawing and visual art interventions for anxiety in children aged 5-12: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Yu Jia, Shaojie Zhang, Diying Liao
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of drawing and visual art interventions on anxiety in children aged 5-12 years. Analyzing 10 randomized controlled trials involving 816 children, the study found that these interventions significantly reduced short-term anxiety compared to non-art or usual-care controls, with a standardized mean difference of -2.70.
Key findings
- Drawing and visual art interventions reduced short-term anxiety with a standardized mean difference of -2.70.
- The analysis included 10 randomized controlled trials involving 816 children.
- Substantial heterogeneity was noted in the results, particularly among different settings.
- Two trials with active art comparators were analyzed separately, indicating varied outcomes.
Why it matters
Understanding the effectiveness of art-based interventions can help clinicians identify non-pharmacological strategies to alleviate anxiety in children, particularly in medical settings. This may enhance patient care and improve overall treatment experiences.
What to keep in mind
Substantial heterogeneity in the studies and varying comparator structures limit the generalizability of the findings across different pediatric settings.