TEXTILE ARTS AS A COPING MECHANISM FOR AN ADOLESCENT WHO HAS EXPERIENCED LIFE STRESSORS

The current case study explores how textile arts can be used as a coping mechanism for an adolescent who has experienced life stressors, including a chronic illness and repeated hospitalizations. The adolescent participant was recruited from James and Connie Maynard Children's Hospital in Greenville, NC. Three one-hour sessions were conducted in which the principle investigator taught the participant how to knit. Data were collected from a demographic survey, an open-ended questions interview, and the interactions/conversations that took place during the three knitting sessions. For the participant, knitting was a distraction from hospitalization which typically comprises of pain, boredom, and loneliness. Additionally, learning to knit was also a doorway to conversation, and the beginnings to building a trusting relationship. Finally, knitting provided a means for the patient to experience positive emotions such as increased motivation, creativity, excitement, and satisfaction. Though further research is necessary in this field of study, findings indicate that knitting by an adolescent experiencing stress can be a catalyst for positive emotions, relationship building, and sharing skills with others.

Department dc:contributor.department

Human Development and Family Science

Grantor dc:publisher

East Carolina University

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Wooten, Ashley Boyd

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Lookabaugh, Sandra

• coping
• knitting

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10342/6467

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:thescholarship.ecu.edu:10342/6467