The Effects of the Group Art Therapy using Reminiscence Therapy on the Aging Attitude and Quality of Life of the Elderly Living Alone

This study examines the effects of reminiscence-based group art therapy on the attitudes toward aging and the quality of life of elderly individuals living alone. The study participants were 24 elderly individuals living alone, aged 65 and older, who use a senior care facility in K City. They were divided into two groups: an exp. group of 12 and a control group of 12. The experimental group underwent 12 sessions of group art therapy once a week from September 5, 2023, to December 12, 2023. The Aging Attitudes Questionnaire(AAQ-21) and the Quality of Life in Ageing Scale(CASP-19) were used as research tools. Differences between groups were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance. The results are as follows. First, the experimental group showed significant improvements in their attitudes towards aging, particularly in aspects related to social loss, physical and psychological changes, and growth. Second, the quality of life in terms of autonomy, pleasure, and self-realization also significantly improved in the experimental group. These findings suggest that reminiscence-based group art therapy can be an effective intervention for enhancing aging attitudes and quality of life among elderly living alone.