경증치매노인의 인지기능 향상, 우울 감소, 생활만족도 증진을 위한 집단미술치료 프로그램 효과성 연구

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to perform a program on a group art therapy program for the elderly with mild dementia and to verify the effectiveness. The effect of the program was examined to verify changes in cognitive function, depression, and life satisfaction of the elderly with mild dementia between pre and post test using nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Participants are elderly people with mild dementia who have similar living conditions or economic standards and are currently using care centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. The final analysis was conducted with 10 final experimental groups and 9 control groups. Analysis of covariance was used to verify the effectiveness of program by controlling the pretest score. The main results are as follows. First, the effect of promoting cognitive function that was deteriorated due to dementia was verified in the experimental group participating in the group art therapy program than the control group’s. Second, the reduction of depression was verified in he experimental group participating in the group art therapy program than the control group’s. Third, the effect of promoting life satisfaction was verified in the group participating in the group art therapy program than the control group’s. It was confirmed that the group art therapy program are useful in preserving and restoring cognitive function, protecting mental health through emotional purification, and improving the quality of life. This study has its significance to discover the elderly with mild dementia who were marginalized among dementia patients and to confirm the proactive intervention strategy in the early stage of dementia.