Visual arts expression on mental health outcomes: an empirical study

Abstract Background In the field of psychotherapy, the exploration of non-pharmacological interventions has gained increasing attention. Visual art expression, as a core form of expressive art therapy, provides a non-verbal pathway for emotional regulation and self-exploration. Although its clinical applications have gradually increased, standardized intervention protocols for specific psychosomatic symptoms and quantifiable efficacy evidence remain insufficient. Currently, there is a lack of high-quality empirical evidence utilizing rigorous randomized controlled trials. Therefore, this study aims to develop a structured group visual art expression intervention program and evaluate its immediate and short-term sustained effects on improving anxiety and depressive symptoms in adults through randomized controlled trials. Methods The study enrolled 120 adult participants diagnosed with mild to moderate anxiety or depressive states, who were randomly assigned to an art intervention group (n = 60) or a waitlist control group (n = 60). The art intervention group received a structured group visual art expression intervention for 8 weeks, with weekly sessions of 90 minutes each, including emotional symbol drawing, narrative painting, and clay sculpting, all guided by a registered art therapist. The control group received no intervention during the study period. Assessments were conducted before intervention (T1), at the end of intervention (T2), and one month after intervention (T3) using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Results The anxiety and depression symptoms in the art intervention group showed significant reduction after the intervention, with the effects maintained during the follow-up period. Specific data are presented in Table 1. Table 1 data analysis revealed that the anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9) symptoms in the art intervention group were significantly alleviated (p.001), while the self-esteem level (RSES) showed a significant improvement, with all improvements remaining stable during the follow-up period. No significant changes were observed in any of the indicators in the waiting control group. Discussion Research demonstrates that structured group visual art expression interventions can effectively and sustainably alleviate mild to moderate anxiety and depressive symptoms, while simultaneously enhancing self-esteem levels. This supports the use of artistic expression as an effective adjunctive non-pharmacological intervention in psychotherapy. Future studies could validate the efficacy of this approach across a broader spectrum of mental disorders, and combine neuroimaging techniques to further explore the underlying neurobiological mechanisms by which artistic creation influences emotional and cognitive functions.