Objective: Women with breast cancer suffer from considerable
stress related to the diagnosis, surgery, and medical treatment. It is
important to develop strategies to strengthen coping resources among these
women. Research in art therapy has shown outcomes such as an increase in
self-esteem and cohesion, significant improvement in global health, and a
decrease in anxiety and depression. The aim of the present article was to
describe the effects of an art therapy intervention program on coping
resources in women with primary breast cancer.
Method: In this article, we report some of the results from a
study including 41 women, aged 37–69 years old, with nonmetastatic
primary breast cancer, referred to the Department of Oncology at
Umeå University Hospital in Sweden for postoperative radiotherapy.
The women represented various socioeconomic backgrounds. They were
randomized to a study group (n = 20) with individual art therapy
for 1 h/week during postoperative radiotherapy or to a control group
(n = 21). The article focuses on changes in coping resources, as
measured by the Coping Resources Inventory (CRI) before and 2 and 6 months
after the start of radiotherapy. The study protocol was approved by the
Umeå University Ethical Committee at the Medical Faculty (archive
number 99–386).
Results: There was an overall increase in coping resources
among women with breast cancer after taking part in the art therapy
intervention. Significant differences were seen between the study and
control groups in the social domain on the second and third occasions.
Significant differences were also observed in the total score on the
second occasion.
Significance of results: This study shows that individual art
therapy provided by a trained art therapist in a clinical setting can give
beneficial support to women with primary breast cancer undergoing
radiotherapy, as it can improve their coping resources.