Anxiety reduction through art therapy in women. Exploring stress regulation and executive functioning as underlying neurocognitive mechanisms
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OBJECTIVES: To explore possible working mechanisms of anxiety reduction in women with anxiety disorders, treated with art therapy (AT). METHODS: A RCT comparing AT versus waiting list (WL) condition on aspects of self-regulation. Stress regulation (heart rate and heart rate variability) and executive functioning (daily behavioural and cognitive performance aspects of executive functioning (EF)) were evaluated in a pre-post design. Participants were women, aged 18-65 years with moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: Effectiveness of AT compared to WL was demonstrated in a higher resting HRV post treatment, improvements in aspects of self-reported daily EF (emotion control, working memory, plan/organize and task monitor), but not in cognitive performance of EF, stress responsiveness and down regulation of stress. The decrease in anxiety level was associated with improvements in self-reported daily EF. CONCLUSIONS: AT improves resting HRV and aspects of EF, the latter was associated with art therapy-related anxiety reduction.
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The existing evidence on art therapy effectiveness is characterised by conflicting results.
“However, the existing evidence is characterised by conflicting results.”
From The effect of active visual art therapy on health outcomes: protocol of a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (2022) · cites this paper as [27]
The Introduction says little is known about art therapy’s effectiveness, and the Discussion (Strengths, limitations and generalizability; page unavailable) calls the literature sparse. Neither passage says existing studies have conflicting results; searches for conflicting or inconsistent efficacy findings did not establish that point. (LLM, conf=0.70)
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References 60 · Cited by 46
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- [2]Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA, 2018). About AADA. Facts and Statistics. Accessed September 16, 2018 from https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics
- [6]Hassink-Franke L.J.A., Terluin B., Van Heest F.B., Hekman J., Van Marwijk H.W.J., & Van Avendonk M.J.P. (2012). NHG-Standaard Angst (tweede herziening). Huisarts Wet, 55(2), 68– 77.
- [18]Appelhans B., Luecken L., & Leucken B. (2006). Attentional processes, anxiety, and the regulation of cortisol reactivity (vol 19, pg 81, 2006). Anxiety Stress And Coping, 19(2), 93.
- [49]Lehrer P. M., & Woolfolk R. L. (1982). Self-report assessment of anxiety: Somatic, cognitive and behavioural modalities. Behavioural Assessment, 4(2), 167– 177.
- Authors
- Abbing, A., de Sonneville, L., Baars, E., Bourne, D., & Swaab, H.
- Affiliations
- Leiden University (NL)
- University of Applied Sciences Leiden (NL)
- University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Abbing, Annemarie
- Venue
- PLOS ONE
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Published
- 2019-12-03
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- e0225200
- ISSN
- 1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6890254
- OpenAlex
- W2993879061
- Cited by
- 46
- References
- 60
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 46.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Conservation › Art Therapy and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Music Therapy and Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- art therapy, anxiety disorders, women, stress regulation, heart rate variability, executive function, self-regulation, emotion control, working memory, neurocognitive mechanisms, anxiety reduction
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Art Therapy, Cognition, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Stress, Psychological, Young Adult, Executive Function
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