Mindfulness-Based Art Interventions for Students: A Meta-Analysis Review of the Effect on Anxiety
Zhu Zhihui, Lin Xiao, Nor Aniza Ahmad, Samsilah Roslan, Nur Aimi Nasuha Burhanuddin, Jianping Gao, Cuihua Huang
Behavioral Sciences August 7, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/bs15081078 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,548 |
| Population | Students |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based art interventions Mandala coloring activity |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychological intervention Intervention counseling Clinical psychology Mental health Meta-analysis Inclusion mineral Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based art interventions reduced students' anxiety with a moderate effect size (g = -0.387). |
Abstract
Anxiety has become an important issue affecting students’ mental health. There is some evidence that mindfulness-based art interventions (MBAIs) can reduce students’ anxiety symptoms. However, some studies have shown the opposite view. Therefore, it is necessary to explore whether MBAIs are effective in alleviating students’ anxiety. In this meta-analysis, we chose 17 articles that met the criteria for inclusion, involving a total of 1548 participants, to figure out how big an impact the interventions had on student anxiety as a whole. The results show that MBAIs can reduce students’ anxiety (g = −0.387, p = 0.000). The effect size varies based on different moderators, including learning stage, sample size, intervention type, research design, measuring instrument, and intervention duration. Intervention type, research design, and measuring instrument are significant moderators. Specifically, the mindfulness-based art intervention (MBAI) showed stronger effects than the mandala coloring activity. Single-group experimental designs showed significantly higher effect sizes than studies that included a control group, and studies that used other measurement instruments had significantly higher effect sizes than those that used the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. On this basis, the researchers put forward specific suggestions based on MBAIs to alleviate the anxiety of students from different educational backgrounds. However, due to the nascent nature of this field, the number of included articles is relatively small. The effectiveness of the research needs further testing.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 19
- Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Classical mindfulness: an introduction to its theory and practice for clinical application. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences August 1, 2009
- Students and Teachers Benefit from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in a School-Embedded Pilot Study Frontiers in Psychology April 26, 2016
- Effects of mindfulness on test anxiety: a meta-analysis Frontiers in Psychology June 24, 2024
- The effect of mindfulness-based mandala activity on anxiety and spiritual well-being levels of senior nursing students: A randomized controlled study. Perspectives In Psychiatric Care July 3, 2022
and 14 more in the library