David Sandmire, Sarah Gorham, Nancy Rankin, and David Grimm publish article in art therapy journal
David Sandmire, M.D., M.A., professor of biology; Sarah Gorham, MFA, MAT, assistant professor of creative and fine arts; Nancy Rankin, M.Ed., LPC, senior lecturer, Psychology Department; and David Grimm, Ed.D., assistant lecturer, Department of Biology, have recently published an article titled "The Influence of Art Making on Anxiety: A Pilot Study" in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, volume 29(2):68-73.
The investigators found that a mere 30 minutes of time spent creating a work of art significantly reduced one's "state" and "trait" anxiety scores, as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, when compared to a control group that did not participate in art making.
The group is currently working on their next phase which will assess physiologic parameters of anxiety during art making.