Art Therapy in Decreasing the Anxiety Score of an Only Child Adolescent with Divorced Parents due to Domestic Violence

Abstract

Domestic violence or Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is known as the cause of psychological disorders in victims, perpetrators and their children. Previous studies point out that negative effects of domestic violence negatively influence the development of children and adolescence. Most studies focused on victims and perpetrators. However, there is minimal data focusing on the development of psychological disorders in adolescents exposed to domestic violence. Based on a previous survey, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995) was used to obtain an overview of symptoms on 50 participants aged 15-19 exposed to domestic violence. Seventeen participants (34%) obtained scores which fit into the moderate, mild and normal category, while 33 participants (66%) obtained severe and extremely severe scores on the anxiety scale. Based on this finding, the current study further explored anxiety experienced by ‘Only Child’ adolescents exposed to domestic violence. Furthermore, this study uses art therapy intervention to reduce anxiety scores of adolescents exposed to domestic violence. Participants for this intervention are selected upon meeting the criteria of being an Only Child adolescent with divorced parents due to domestic violence.

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Author Information
Lelita Larashati, Universitas Tarumanagara, Indonesia
Monty Satiadarma, Universitas Tarumanagara, Indonesia

• Category: Mental Health

Posted by James Alexander Gordon

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