Depression is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness in the elderly population. It affects close to 6 million Americans 65 and older. Older adults with significant symptoms of depression have roughly 50% higher healthcare cost than those non-depressed seniors
The risk factors of depression vary with the individual. Losses such as the death of loved ones and friends may create the risk of social isolation. The presence of chronic pain, fear of death, stressful events, lack of a supportive network, damage to body image, and other physical conditions all contribute to these risk factors.
Because creative activity enhances the production of serotonin, a chemical known to decrease feelings of depression, using art therapy to combat depression is a cost effective and non-invasive means to achieve this goal. The process of creating art in a group helps to counteract feelings of isolation, creates a supportive network and helps to enhance a sense of self worth. Social interaction, which is often missing in the elderly, can be regained in a group atmosphere.
Art therapy further benefits this population by creating a safe place to express feelings, creating hope, creating new goals, and resurrecting a positive story about their lives through art expression.
","abstract_html":"<p>Depression is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness in the elderly population. It affects close to 6 million Americans 65 and older. Older adults with significant symptoms of depression have roughly 50% higher healthcare cost than those non-depressed seniors</p> <p>The risk factors of depression vary with the individual. Losses such as the death of loved ones and friends may create the risk of social isolation. The presence of chronic pain, fear of death, stressful events, lack of a supportive network, damage to body image, and other physical conditions all contribute to these risk factors.</p> <p>Because creative activity enhances the production of serotonin, a chemical known to decrease feelings of depression, using art therapy to combat depression is a cost effective and non-invasive means to achieve this goal. The process of creating art in a group helps to counteract feelings of isolation, creates a supportive network and helps to enhance a sense of self worth. Social interaction, which is often missing in the elderly, can be regained in a group atmosphere.</p> <p>Art therapy further benefits this population by creating a safe place to express feelings, creating hope, creating new goals, and resurrecting a positive story about their lives through art expression.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Van Pelt, Janet Ann"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy","degree_level":"Master's Thesis","degree_discipline":"Art Therapy","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Richard Carolan, EdD, ATR-BC","Toni Morley, MFT, ATR"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2006,"date_issued":"2006-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2006-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:06:14Z","subjects":["Art Therapy","Grant Proposal","Depression","Narrative Therapy","Counseling Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholar.dominican.edu/art-therapy-print-theses/139","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Richard Carolan, EdD, ATR-BC","Toni Morley, MFT, ATR"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Van Pelt, Janet Ann"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2021-09-27T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Art Therapy"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Art Therapy","Grant Proposal","Depression","Narrative Therapy","Counseling Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholar.dominican.edu/art-therapy-print-theses/139"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Depression is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness in the elderly population. It affects close to 6 million Americans 65 and older. Older adults with significant symptoms of depression have roughly 50% higher healthcare cost than those non-depressed seniors
The risk factors of depression vary with the individual. Losses such as the death of loved ones and friends may create the risk of social isolation. The presence of chronic pain, fear of death, stressful events, lack of a supportive network, damage to body image, and other physical conditions all contribute to these risk factors.
Because creative activity enhances the production of serotonin, a chemical known to decrease feelings of depression, using art therapy to combat depression is a cost effective and non-invasive means to achieve this goal. The process of creating art in a group helps to counteract feelings of isolation, creates a supportive network and helps to enhance a sense of self worth. Social interaction, which is often missing in the elderly, can be regained in a group atmosphere.
Art therapy further benefits this population by creating a safe place to express feelings, creating hope, creating new goals, and resurrecting a positive story about their lives through art expression.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Using a Narrative Art Therapy Approach to Reduce Depression in Older Adults"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Richard Carolan, EdD, ATR-BC","Toni Morley, MFT, ATR"],"dc:creator":["Van Pelt, Janet Ann"],"dc:date.available":["2021-09-27T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Depression is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness in the elderly population. It affects close to 6 million Americans 65 and older. Older adults with significant symptoms of depression have roughly 50% higher healthcare cost than those non-depressed seniors
The risk factors of depression vary with the individual. Losses such as the death of loved ones and friends may create the risk of social isolation. The presence of chronic pain, fear of death, stressful events, lack of a supportive network, damage to body image, and other physical conditions all contribute to these risk factors.
Because creative activity enhances the production of serotonin, a chemical known to decrease feelings of depression, using art therapy to combat depression is a cost effective and non-invasive means to achieve this goal. The process of creating art in a group helps to counteract feelings of isolation, creates a supportive network and helps to enhance a sense of self worth. Social interaction, which is often missing in the elderly, can be regained in a group atmosphere.
Art therapy further benefits this population by creating a safe place to express feelings, creating hope, creating new goals, and resurrecting a positive story about their lives through art expression.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholar.dominican.edu/art-therapy-print-theses/139"],"dc:subject":["Art Therapy","Grant Proposal","Depression","Narrative Therapy","Counseling Psychology"],"dc:title":["Using a Narrative Art Therapy Approach to Reduce Depression in Older Adults"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Art Therapy"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:06:14Z"}