Chinese Painting and Spiritual Healing: The Application of Traditional Art in Mental Health Intervention of College Students

Background and Aims: Objective: The increasing number of mental health problems in college students encourages researchers to explore new intervention methods. As an art form containing profound cultural connotations, traditional Chinese painting shows its unique potential for emotional expression and spiritual healing. Research Methodology: This study used an experimental design, and 120 college students participated in the initial mental health assessment, including anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), and self-efficacy (GSE). 30 students with obvious mental health problems were selected and randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, 15 each. Result: The experimental group participated in the 8-week Chinese painting therapy course (once a week for 90 minutes each), and the control group did not receive any intervention. After the intervention, both groups again received the same mental health assessment. After the intervention, anxiety scores decreased by 25% (p <0.001), depression scores by 30% (p <0.001), and self-efficacy increased by 22% (p<0.001). Qualitative analysis showed that participants reported significant improvements in emotional expression, self-perception, and a sense of inner peace. Conclusion: Chinese painting healing has shown a remarkable effect in relieving anxiety and depression and improving self-efficacy. This study verified the feasibility of traditional Chinese painting as a tool for mental health intervention and suggested more widespread application in mental health services for college students.