A thematic analysis of Chinese university students’ digital art therapy experience: an embodied perspective

Digital art therapy is a novel approach that allows participants to creatively express themselves using digital media. This study examines Chinese university students’ experiences with digital art therapy through an embodied perspective, focusing on their interactions with digital media in therapeutic contexts. Sixteen participants were purposefully selected, and data were collected via semi-structured interviews, participant observations, and analysis of digital artworks created during therapy sessions. Thematic analysis was conducted inductively to explore the role of digital media in healthcare and health communication within art therapy. Findings highlight the significance of embodied experiences—movements, postures, and other physical modalities—in impacting well-being during digital art therapy. The study emphasizes the therapeutic potential of active bodily engagement and recommends further research into the embodiment of digital art therapy to enhance therapeutic connections and outcomes.