Abstract Background Patients with depressive disorder (DD) often exhibit persistent low mood, impaired emotional regulation, and diminished self-efficacy. These psychological deficits not only exacerbate symptoms but also compromise treatment adherence and rehabilitation outcomes. In recent years, art-based interventions have gained increasing attention. Craft Art Creation (CAC), which emphasizes tactile engagement with materials, aesthetic experiences, and participatory processes, is considered potentially effective in promoting emotional relief and restoration of self-worth. However, systematic evidence regarding CAC’s therapeutic effects on DD remains limited, particularly concerning how it influences emotional regulation mechanisms, alters self-efficacy, and whether these factors interact to improve symptoms. This study aims to evaluate the impact of CAC on emotional regulation and self-efficacy in DD patients, while exploring the underlying mechanisms through which these factors contribute to symptom improvement. Methods This study enrolled 198 patients with depression (DD) who had received professional diagnosis, randomly assigned to either the CAC intervention group (n = 128) or the conventional psychoeducation control group (n = 70). The CAC program, conducted twice weekly over 10 weeks, involved tasks guided by professional art therapists, including material selection, texture exploration, design creation, and artwork presentation. Assessments included the Emotion Regulation Ability Score (ERAS), Self-Efficacy Level (SEL), and depression symptom scores. Measurements were taken before intervention, at the intervention conclusion, and during a 6-week follow-up. A mixed-effects model was used to analyze group differences, with path analysis examining the mediating effects of emotion regulation and self-efficacy. Results Experimental results demonstrated that the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) score in the CAC intervention group increased by approximately 39% at the end of the intervention period compared to baseline, significantly higher than the 14% improvement observed in the conventional psychological education control group (p=.003). The Self-Efficacy Level (SEL) in the CAC group rose by 36%, while the control group showed only a 11% increase, with statistically significant differences (p=.005). Depression symptom scores decreased by 41% in the CAC group and 18% in the control group (p.001). Follow-up data revealed that the 34% symptom reduction in the CAC group persisted for 6 weeks, compared to only 10% in the control group (p=.006). Path analysis indicated that self-efficacy enhancement played a primary mediating role in depression symptom improvement (path coefficient: -0.52, p=.01), while improved emotional regulation also demonstrated significant predictive value (path coefficient: -0.44, p=.02). Additionally, participants with higher work completion rates exhibited more stable emotional states and greater psychological engagement during follow-up, suggesting that creative participation enhanced intervention effectiveness (p=.02). Discussion Crafts-based interventions provide an effective pathway for depression management, demonstrating significant effects in enhancing emotional regulation, boosting self-efficacy, and alleviating depressive symptoms. This efficacy may stem from the positive psychological effects generated by the synergistic interaction of aesthetic engagement, tactile experiences, and creative mastery. Future studies could integrate extended-term creative interventions with multimodal emotional assessment techniques to further validate the long-term benefits and mechanistic stability of arts and crafts in depression rehabilitation.
Ming Fang (Sun,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: