A Pilot Study of Expressive Drawing for Psychological Health in College Students

Introduction: There has been a recent spike in mental health concerns among college students, with a history of stress and traumatic experiences contributing to feelings of anxiety and depression. Expressive drawing has been shown to improve mental health, but numerous factors can impact its efficacy, for example, the relationship between expressive drawing and one’s emotional expressiveness (EE). Understanding the impact of EE and ambivalence over emotional expressiveness (AEE) on expressive drawing therapies may help guide clinical application. Methods: This pilot study assessed the effects of trauma and gratitude-focused expressive drawing in college students (N=71) who self-reported experiencing a traumatic event. Participants were randomly assigned to trauma, gratitude, or control drawing conditions. Participants drew for up to 30 minutes weekly for 4 weeks. Depression, anxiety, EE, and AEE were collected before and after the intervention. Results: EE and AEE moderated changes in depression and anxiety in expressive drawing groups relative to the control group. Depression was significantly reduced in participants with low AEE after trauma-focused drawing, and in participants with low EE after trauma and gratitude drawing. Discussion: These results suggest that expressivity profiles should be considered when clinicians utilize drawing interventions to reduce anxiety and depression in college students.