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Restorative Environments and Therapeutic Artmaking: A Strengths-Based Art Gallery Workshop to Enhance Well-Being in Emerging Adults

Type: dissertation
Abstract: Emerging adults aged 18 to 29 face increased mental health risks yet encounter considerable barriers to traditional care, which highlights the need for accessible, preventive alternatives. This mixed-methods pilot study investigated whether an art gallery environment could serve as a supportive setting for a strengths-based, positive art therapy-informed wellness workshop aimed at promoting well-being for this population. Six participants between the ages of 20 and 27, all enrolled in post-secondary education, took part in this study. Five identified as female and one as male. Three participants (50%) identified as Hispanic/Latino, one as Asian, one as White, and one as Hispanic/Latino and White. All the participants engaged in a single three-hour workshop at an art gallery in Northern California, incorporating art viewing, reflective journaling, and artmaking exercises. Findings were interpreted through Kaplan's Attention Restoration Theory and Arnett's model of emerging adulthood. Participants consistently described the gallery space as calming, containing, and conducive to reflection. Relationships emerged as the dominant source of strength named across all participants, alongside personal resources such as creativity and resilience. Five of the six participants reported applying workshop strategies in the two weeks that followed, suggesting some sustained impact beyond the workshop itself. Quantitative findings showed promising trends in self-efficacy and resource awareness. The results of this study offer preliminary support for gallery-based wellness workshops as a model for community based, preventive mental health programming for emerging adults.
Language: English
Field: Psychology
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204673875
Cites: 59
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Related to: 10