(SHORTENED VERSION)
No matter a person's skill level, taking time to make art is likely to reduce their stress hormone levels, a new study found.
A piece of art created by a study participant using both markers and modeling clay. They said the experience was "therapeutic, relaxing [and] thoughtful."
Credit: Courtesy of Girija Kaimal
Whether you're Van Gogh or a stick-figure sketcher, a new Drexel University study found that making art can significantly reduce stress-related hormones in your body.
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The results of the study were published in Art Therapy under the title
"Reduction of Cortisol Levels and Participants' Responses Following Art Making."
Kendra Ray, a doctoral student under Kaimal, and Juan Muniz, PhD, an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Nutrition Sciences, served as co-authors. *** ***
For Kaimal's study, 39 adults, ranging from 18 to 59 years old, were invited to participate in 45 minutes of art-making. Cortisol levels were taken before and after the art-making period.
Materials available to the participants included markers and paper, modeling clay and collage materials. There were no directions given and every participant could use any of the materials they chose to create any work of art they desired. ***
Of those who took part in the study, just under half reported that they had limited experience in making art.
The researchers found that 75 percent of the participants' cortisol levels lowered during their 45 minutes of making art. ***
"Some amount of cortisol is essential for functioning," Kaimal explained. "For example, our cortisol levels vary throughout the day -- levels are highest in the morning because that gives us an energy boost to us going at the start of the day. ***
The study did find a weak correlation between age and lower cortisol levels. Younger participants exhibited consistently lower cortisol levels after they'd created art.
FOR FULL ARTICLE ..
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160615134946.htm
TIME INVESTED
FOR THE
WELLNESS OF DEAR
AND UNKNOWN
by
Ezhilarasan Venkatachalam
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