The Effects of a Positive Psychology-Based Group Art Therapy Program on Abstinence Self-Efficacy in Individuals with Substance Addiction

This study aimed to examine the effects of a positive psychology-based group art therapy program on the abstinence self-efficacy of individuals recovering from substance addiction. The program was designed as an intervention to support the psychological and emotional recovery of recovering addicts. It was grounded in the core theories of positive psychology—positive emotions, relationships, and flow—and incorporated woodcarving activities, where participants engraved words into wooden panels, as a form of group art therapy. The study assessed the effectiveness of this program in improving the subcomponents of abstinence self-efficacy, namely negative thoughts, social pressure, physical discomfort, and withdrawal and craving. The participants were 16 residents of a therapeutic community located in city K, who were divided into an experimental group (n=8) and a comparison group (n=8) following a non-equivalent control group design. Both groups completed a pre-test of abstinence self-efficacy. The experimental group participated in eight 60-minute sessions held twice a week, while the comparison group received no treatment. After the program was completed, a post-test was administered, and changes between the pre- and post-tests were analyzed. The results indicated that the positive psychology-based group art therapy program was effective in enhancing abstinence self-efficacy among individuals recovering from substance addiction. Statistically significant improvements were found in all four subdomains: negative thoughts, social pressure, physical discomfort, and withdrawal and craving. These findings suggest that the woodcarving activities embedded in each session contributed to emotional stability through the tactile qualities of the wood, promoted flow experiences through creative engagement, and enhanced a sense of accomplishment through the completion of artworks. Moreover, engraving positive abstinence-related words on wood appeared to broaden positive emotions and served as a catalyst for recovery motivation. Based on these results, the study discusses the limitations of the program and offers suggestions for future research directions.