An Exploratory Study on the Impact of Painted Colors in Adolescent Psychotherapy

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical period for mental health development. However, academic pressures, social challenges, and other factors frequently contribute to psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, among adolescents. This study aims to explore the intervention effects of painting art therapy, with a particular focus on the application and metaphorical use of color, on adolescent depressive symptoms and their underlying mechanisms. The study involves adolescents exhibiting depressive symptoms, who receive individual painting art therapy supplemented by activities focusing on color perception, association, and application. Intervention effectiveness is assessed through multidimensional evaluations, including the analysis of artworks and subjective feedback from participants. Prior research indicates that drawing art therapy significantly alleviates depressive symptoms in adolescents. By employing color as a non-verbal medium, adolescents can more effectively channel and process negative emotions. Color, as a subjective psychological response to the external world, plays a crucial role in emotion regulation through its psychological effects and metaphorical associations. For instance, warm tones (e.g., yellow, orange) are often linked to hope and vitality, contributing to improved mood, whereas cool tones (e.g., gray, blue) may be associated with depression and sadness. The findings suggest that color’s psychological effects are shaped by both innate predispositions and acquired experiences, including cultural background. Future research could further investigate specific color attributes, cross-cultural variations in color symbolism, and the mapping between color and abstract concepts to gain a more comprehensive understanding of color’s potential in psychological interventions.