THE IMPACT OF VISUAL ART THERAPY ON ANXIETY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Anxiety disorders are common, affecting about one-third of people globally and often persist despite standard treatments. Visual art therapy, involving guided creative activities such as drawing or painting, has emerged as a complementary approach to alleviate anxiety. We systematically reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effectiveness of visual art therapy for reducing anxiety in adults.

Subjects and methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, and Web of Science (October 2017-June 2025) was conducted. We included RCTs of adults (18-65 years) receiving a visual art therapy intervention (e.g., painting, drawing, coloring) versus any control condition. Fourteen RCTs (total N = 1,686) met the inclusion criteria.

Results: All 14 trials found significantly greater anxiety reduction in art therapy groups compared to controls, with interventions ranging from a single 15-30 minute art-making session to 5-12 week art therapy programs. Anxiety scores improved more in art therapy participants across both clinical and high-stress non-clinical groups. Although no meta-analysis was performed due to heterogeneity, all trials reported positive outcomes for art-based interventions.

Conclusions: Current evidence strongly supports visual art therapy as an effective intervention for reducing anxiety symptoms in adults. It yields meaningful anxiety reductions across diverse formats (from brief art-making sessions to multi-week programs). As an accessible intervention complementing standard treatments, art therapy represents a valuable integrative approach to anxiety management.

Keywords: anxiety disorders; art therapy; complementary therapies; randomized controlled trials; systematic review; visual arts intervention.