A Comparative Analysis of Stress and Anxiety Reduction Between Working with Clay and Mandala Design Coloring
Sara Julsrud
Old Dominion University September 30, 2026 DOI: 10.25777/a3zy-aq60 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental repeated measures study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Undergraduate students aged 18 to 40 from Virginia Wesleyan College and Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA |
| Interventions | Guided clay work meditation mandala coloring |
| Measures | blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Key findings | The only statistically significant result was a decrease in heart rate in the clay work group compared with the control and mandala coloring groups. Small decreases in stress and anxiety were observed across the artmaking conditions, which the authors suggest have promise for further research. |
Abstract
One aim of this study was to help scientifically quantify many art therapists’ belief that artmaking is intrinsically healing. This study explored the effects of mindful art therapy processes (guided clay work meditation and mandala coloring) on stress and anxiety through measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Data were collected from 20 undergraduate students from Virginia Wesleyan College and Old Dominion University, both of Norfolk, VA. Ages of subjects ranged from 18 to 40 years old. Through use of repeated measures analysis, the posttest measurements from each subject were compared to their respective pretest results, and the results of each group were compared to the other groups. The only measurement of statistical significance was a decrease in heart rate from the clay work group in comparison to the control and mandala coloring group. Whereas there were limited statistically significant data produced, there were small decreases in stress and anxiety consistent throughout the analysis of the experimental artmaking conditions and have promise for further research.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| A PILOT STUDY OF GROUP MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) FOR COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) Veterans with chronic combat posttraumatic stress disorder seeking treatment at a VA... | 2013 | Quasi-experimental with treatment-as-usual comparison group | n = 37 |
| Being present in the face of existential threat: The role of trait mindfulness in reducing defensive responses to mortality salience. | 2010 | Experimental study | |
| Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation-related anxiety relief Healthy adults with no prior meditation experience | 2013 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 15 |
| Intensive mindfulness training-related changes in cognitive and emotional experience Community adults | 2009 | Quasi-experimental and longitudinal | n = 69 |
| Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment Volunteers | 2019 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 11 |