The effect of visual art activities on socialization and stress management of individuals with special needs

Year 2023, , 690 - 708, 23.12.2023

Kıymet Bayer , Seda Liman Turan

https://doi.org/10.21449/ijate.1269977

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the impact of visual arts activities on the socialization and stress management of individuals with special needs. This is a qualitative research study that employs "action research" and our data were collected based on the observations of teachers. Over a 20-week period, visual arts activities were carried out with 27 individuals with special needs, including six with autism, seven with Down syndrome, and 14 with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities, who received education at the third level in the "Fehmi Cerrahoğlu Special Education Practice School" in Ordu province during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years. The study group included a counselling teacher and 19 special education teachers, who observed the activities and their effects on the socialization levels and stress management of educable individuals with special needs. The data obtained from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Most of the participating teachers agreed that visual arts activities contributed to the socialization and stress management of individuals with special needs, and the study found that these activities played an important role in the inclusion of individuals with special needs in society and led to a decrease in stress symptoms.

Keywords

Special education, Individual with special needs, Visual arts activities, Socialization, Stress management

Ethical Statement

Trabzon University, Social and Human Sciences Research and Publication Ethics Committee, E-81614018-000-320

References

• Adan, A. (2009). Görsel sanatlar eğitiminin down sendromlu çocuklar üzerindeki etkileri (Diyarbakır örneği) [The effects of visual arts education on children with down syndrome (Diyarbakır Example)] [Unpublished master's thesis]. İnönü University.
• Aksu, M. (2011). Zihinsel engelli çocuklarda görsel sanatlar eğitiminin motor beceri gelişimine katkısı [The contribution of visual arts education to motor skill development in children with intellectual disabilities]. [Unpublished master's thesis]. Uludağ University.
• Baydağ, C. (2013). Görme engelli bireylerin sosyalleşme sürecinde verilen müzik eğitiminin, müzikal motivasyon, müziksel ilgi ve müzik yaşantılarına etkisi [The effect of music education given in the socialization process of visually impaired individuals on musical motivation, musical interest and music experiences] [Unpublished master's thesis]. Marmara University.
• Bayraktar, E. (2007). Görsel sanatlar eğitiminin otistik çocuklar üzerindeki etkileri [The effects of visual arts education on autistic children] [Unpublished master's thesis]. Gazi University.
• Bolu, H. (2010). Zihinsel engelli çocukların gelişiminde sanat eğitimi derslerinin katkısı [Contribution of art education courses in the development of mentally retarded children] [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Marmara University.
• Cüceloğlu, D. (1994). İnsan ve davranışı: Psikolojinin temel kavramları [Humans and their behavior: Fundamental concepts of psychology]. Remzi Books.
• Doğutaş, A. (2017). Özel eğitim kurumlarındaki görsel sanat eğitim uygulamalarının öğretmen görüşleriyle değerlendirilmesi [Evaluation of visual art education practices in private education institutions based on the opinions of teachers] [Unpublished master's thesis]. Yakın Doğu University.
• Eisner, E.W. (2002). What can education learn from the arts about the practice of education? Journal of curriculum and supervision, 18(1), 4-16.
• Erbay, M. (1995). Yükseköğretim düzeyinde sanat eğitimi programlarının uluslararası bağlamda incelenmesi [Examination of arts education programs at the higher education level in an international context]. [Unpublished doctoral thesis]. Marmara University.
• Eşsizoğlu, A., Işıklı, B., Güleç, G., Aksaray, G., Yenilmez, Ç., & Kırel, A.Ç. (2013). Çatışma ve stres yönetimi-II [Conflict and stress management-II]. Anadolu University Publication. https://ets.anadolu.edu.tr/storage/nfs/CMH202U/ebook/CMH202U-13V4S1-8-0-1-SV1-ebook.pdf
• Grytting, C. (2000). The benefits of art education. Forum: Thoughts to Share. Arts & Activities, 127(3), 66.
• Gündoğdu, R., & Adıgüzel, Ö. (2016). Stres ve yaratıcı drama: Üniversite öğrencileri ile yapılan bir çalışma [Stress and creative drama: A study with university students]. Creative Drama Magazine, 11(1), 45-70.
• Hetland, L., Winner, E., Veenema, S., & Sheridan, K.M. (2015). Studio thinking 2: The real benefits of visual arts education. Teachers College Press.
• Işık, H. (2014). Zihinsel engelli çocukların el becerilerinin gelişmesine resim-iş dersinin katkısı ile ilgili özel eğitim öğretmenlerinin görüşleri [Opinions of special education teachers about the contribution of art lessons to the development of hand skills of mentally handicapped children] [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Anadolu University.
• Keirstead, C., & Graham, W. (2004). VSA arts research study: Using the arts to help special education students meet their learning goals. RMC Research Corporation.
• Martin, L., Oepen, R., Bauer, K., Nottensteiner, A., Mergheim, K., Gruber, H., & Koch, S.C. (2018). Creative arts interventions for stress management and prevention-a systematic review. Behavioral Sciences, 8(2). https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/8/2/28/pdf
• Mayer, H. (1999). Kompetenzprofil; Staatlich Anerkannte Arbeitserzieherin Staatlich Anerkannter Arbeitserzieher. Schemmerhofen.
• Meros, D. (1990). A developmental/behavioral to art therapy for persons with mental retardation [Doctoral dissertation]. Ursuline College.
• Paksoy, S. (2003). 8-12 yaş eğitilebilir zihinsel engelli çocukların resim-iş eğitimi [Art-work education of educable mentally retarded children aged 8-12] [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Marmara University.
• Polloway, E.A., Patton, J.R., Smith, T.E., & Buck, G.H. (1997). Mental retardation and learning disabilities: Conceptual and applied issues. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 30(3), 297-308. https://doi.org/10.1177/002221949703000305
• Rooney, R. (2004). Arts-based teaching and learning: A review of the literature. VSA Arts. http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/vsa/resources/VSAarts_Lit_Rev5-28pdf
• Salderay, B. (2008). Türkiye’deki zihin engelliler iş okullarında görsel sanatlar dersinin öğrencilerin beceri, davranış ve meslek edinimindeki katkısına yönelik öğretmen görüşleri [Teachers' views on the contribution of visual arts course to students' skill, behavior and vocational acquisition in workshop schools for the mentally handicapped in Turkey] [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Gazi University.
• Salderay, B. (2010). Engelli bireylerin yapmış olduğu görsel sanatlar çalışmalarının engelli birey aileleri ve engelli bireylerle çalışan eğitimciler tarafından değerlendirilmesi [Evaluation of visual arts works by disabled individuals by their families and educators working with disabled individuals]. Journal of Erzincan Faculty of Education, 12(1), 219-229.
• Salderay, B. (2014). Özel eğitim sürecinde görsel sanatlar uygulamalarının önemine ilişkin aile düşünce yapılarının değişimi [Change of family mentality regarding the importance of visual arts practices in the special education process]. Manas Journal of Social Studies, 3(3), 87-101.
• Scott, B.A. (2017). Art as a stress reduction tool [Unpublished doctoral thesis]. Marietta College.
• Şahan, H. (2007). Üniversite öğrencilerinin sosyalleşme sürecinde spor aktivitelerinin rolü [The role of sports activities in the socialization process of university students] [Unpublished doctoral thesis]. Selçuk University.
• Taş, R. (2019). Ortaokul öğrencilerinde sosyal etkinliklere katılma durumu ile stres düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi [Examining the relationship between participation in social activities and stress levels in secondary school students] [Unpublished master's thesis]. Biruni University.
• Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (1999). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri (11. bs.) [Qualitative research methods in social sciences (11th ed.)]. Seçkin Publications.