The Effects of Completing Mandalas on Mood, Anxiety, and State Mindfulness
C. Campenni, Ashley Hartman
Art Therapy January 2, 2020 DOI: 10.1080/07421656.2019.1669980 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 69 |
| Population | Undergraduates |
| Intervention | instruction (directed expression and free expression) |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key findings | All four conditions equally improved mood, state anxiety, and state body mindfulness; unstructured mandala creation led to more affect and insight word use than structured mandala coloring. |
Abstract
Abstract This randomized controlled study examined effects of mandala (structured and unstructured) and instruction (directed expression and free expression) on state anxiety, mood, and state mindfulness. Participants included 69 undergraduates randomly assigned to one of four conditions following anxious mood induction. The design followed 2 (mandala) X 2 (instruction) X 3 (time) mixed factorial design. A reflective writing task was analyzed for linguistic expression. Results indicated that all conditions are equivalently effective strategies for improving mood, state anxiety, and state body mindfulness. Linguistic patterns identified that unstructured mandala creation led to more affect and insight word use than structured mandala coloring. This study suggests that coloring and creating mandalas yield different implications for addressing particular therapeutic goals.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Exploring Anima: a brain–computer interface for peripheral materialization of mindfulness states during mandala coloring Human-Computer Interaction November 16, 2021
- Designing scalable micro‑interventions for student wellbeing in higher education: a comparative study of digital and paper colouring Journal of Mental Health September 18, 2026
- Mixed Methods Study on The Impact of Coloring Mandalas on Emotional Regulation, Mindfulness, and Attachment Style in Adults 2025
- The Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy Program on Sleep Quality among Urban Older Adults in Thailand: A Quasi-Experimental Study Patient Preference and Adherence October 1, 2025
- Brief Virtual Reality Mindfulness is More Effective than Audio Mindfulness and Colouring in Reducing Stress in University Students Mindfulness February 1, 2024
and 4 more in the library
Cites 4
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- The Primordial Mandalas of East and West: Jungian and Tibetan Buddhist Approaches to Healing and Transformation NeuroQuantology May 23, 2016
- When Did Coloring Books Become Mindful? Exploring the Effectiveness of a Novel Method of Mindfulness-Guided Instructions for Coloring Books to Increase Mindfulness and Decrease Anxiety. Frontiers in Psychology 2018