Impacts of Creative Engagement on Adolescent Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

The healing power of creative art has been studied in different capacities for decades. This qualitative analysis aimed to investigate the impacts of engaging in creative activities on depressed adolescents. It was hypothesized that engaging in creative work would facilitate change in adolescents’ perspectives and behavior in ways that would promote their well-being. Qualitative data of 14 adolescents in an outpatient therapy program were analyzed, which included writing samples and a questionnaire about adolescents’ perspectives and experiences with creativity. The main finding was that engaging in creative work led participants to reflect on coping skills they already had, which gave them a new perspective on their ability to handle mental health challenges. These findings suggest that there are potential benefits to engaging in creative work for depressed adolescents, but a greater depth of research should be done to solidify the knowledge about this relationship.