| Abstract [eng] |
Motuzaitė, A. The Self-Esteem of Early Adolescents with Specific Learning Disabilities in the Process of Art Therapy: Master's Thesis / Scientific Supervisor: Dr. A. Brazauskaitė, Consultant: Lecturer D. Stiklerienė. Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation, Physical and Sports Medicine. 2025; p. 93. This master's thesis analyses the self-esteem of early adolescents with specific learning disabilities in the process of art therapy. The relevance of the study lies in the fact that scientific literature indicates lower self-esteem in this group of children, which is often associated with learning difficulties, particularly dyslexia. Research emphasizes that psychosocial well-being can be enhanced through various therapeutic interventions, including art therapy. The object of the research is the self-esteem of early adolescents with specific learning disabilities and its expression through the process of art therapy. The aim of the study is to explore the self-esteem of early adolescents with specific learning disabilities within the framework of art therapy. Research objectives: 1)To review the scientific literature relevant to the study topic. 2) To assess the participants’ self-esteem before and after art therapy using Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale. 3) To describe and analyze the changes in self-esteem reflected in artworks created during the art therapy process. 4) To identify connections between the quantitative and qualitative research data. Research methodology: A mixed-methods approach was used. Quantitative data were collected using Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, and qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis of the artworks created during a cycle of 10 group art therapy sessions. Participants: The study involved a targeted sample of six early adolescents diagnosed with specific learning disabilities. Two participants were selected for detailed analysis based on the suitability of their data for the chosen analytical methods. Results: The data indicate that art therapy had a positive effect on self-esteem, although this was not always statistically significant. The average self-esteem score increased from 21 to 22 on the Rosenberg scale. While some participants’ self-esteem did not change quantitatively, the qualitative analysis revealed that the creative process provided a valuable space for emotional expression and self-discovery. The findings suggest that art therapy can have a meaningful positive impact on the self esteem of early adolescents with specific learning disabilities. Moreover, qualitative methods are essential for uncovering individual and deep changes that may not be captured by quantitative measures. Keywords: art therapy, self-esteem, specific learning disabilities, early adolescence, mixed methods research, drawing analysis. |
