The Effectiveness of Self-Narrative Art Therapy in Reducing (PTSD) Symptoms Among War-Affected Syrian Children

Abstract

The Syrian civil war became a catalyst for numerous psychological issues, especially among children who faced migration and exposure to violence. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) stands out as one of the most prevalent mental health problems among these young survivors. The research outcomes to be presented in this paper aim to investigate the efficacy of art therapy through the self-narrative approach in reducing PTSD symptoms among Syrian war-affected children aged 6 to 12. The study followed a semi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test, using a control group. Twenty Syrian children from war-affected areas were selected for high scores on the scale that measures the intensity of trauma symptoms. Half received an art therapy intervention. The results revealed that Self-Narrative Art-Therapy significantly contributed to reducing PTSD symptoms, including re-experiencing, avoidance, numbing, and arousal, in Syrian war-affected children aged 6 to 12, making it a viable psychological intervention. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.