Assessing Stress Reduction as a Function of Artistic Creation and Cognitive Focus

In this outcomes study (N=40), changes in stress levels were compared across two participant conditions for a period of artistic activity with a cognitive focus on either a personally stressful or positive situation. Results indicated that participants in the positive-focus condition demonstrated a significant decrease in stress, whereas participants in the negative-focus condition demonstrated a slight increase in stress (p <.05). These findings on stress reduction give strength to the hypothesis that art making is a means of receiving a "creative high" (Foster, 1992), although long-term follow-up is necessary to adequately assess this phenomenon as it may pertain to art therapy.