Finding peace in pastel art : the effects of nagomi pastel art on Hong Kong secondary school students

Abstract

This study compared the effects of Nagomi pastel art and free drawing (structured and unstructured art activity) on outcome measures of mood, state mindfulness and anxiety. 112 Hong Kong secondary school students aged 12-17 from four local schools were randomly assigned to a two-hour Nagomi pastel art (structured) or a free drawing (unstructured) condition after a negative mood induction task. Results showed that both conditions demonstrated significant improvements in the outcome measures, with no differences found between the two conditions except for positive mood. Participants in the Nagomi pastel art condition demonstrated a significant increase in positive mood, and no significant increase was found in the free drawing condition. Further correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between mindfulness, mood and anxiety. Significant correlations were found between mindfulness and the other outcome variables in the structured Nagomi pastel art condition. On the other hand, no significant correlations were found between mindfulness and the other outcome variables in the free drawing condition. The findings implied short-term benefits of brief Nagomi pastel art on adolescents and mindfulness as a possible mechanism behind the improvements in mood and anxiety.