EVALUATING THE POTENTIAL ART-BASED INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE TRAUMA RELATED SYMPTOMS AMONG CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Abstract

Children with disabilities (CWDs) often demonstrate some psychological distress and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), specifically those who experience traumatic incidents. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of art-based interventions in minimizing traumatic experiences among children with disabilities. The participants were given a three-month intervention comprising 45-minute sessions six days a week, using quantitative research design. These intervention sessions integrated a wide range of art-based activities such as role playing, painting, colouring, sketching, collage making, music and dancing to reduce traumatic feelings and foster emotional expression.To assess changes in trauma-related symptoms parents of the children were asked to complete the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-PTSD (DSM-V) Checklist before and after the intervention sessions. The paired-sample statistics indicatedsubstantial reduction in traumatic symptoms, validating the potential of art-based interventions to promote psychological well-being among children with disabilities. The findings highlight the significance of art-based approached and emphasize their need for inclusion in special education.