Drawing and Anxiety Study
D&A
1 other identifier
interventional
275
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Anxiety is among the most common emotional difficulties impacting well-being, highlighting the need for approachable anxiety-reduction tools. Both mindfulness and art-based interventions have been shown to decrease anxiety symptoms. These studies integrate these approaches via a novel guided drawing intervention, and tests effects on anxiety (pre/post drawing and at one-week follow-up) and physiological regulation (respiratory sinus arrhythmia). This registration includes two separate intervention studies with similar protocols but using different samples - one consisting of adolescents ages 13 to 17.9 years, and the other consisting of adults ages 18 to 25 years. Participants complete a laboratory visit during which they complete questionnaires about their emotions and anxiety, complete pre/post measures of cardiac physiology and state anxiety, and engage in a drawing session. Participants also complete a one-week follow-up self-report of anxiety symptoms. The intervention protocol is briefly described as follows: participants in each sample are randomly assigned to one of three groups (guided drawing, free drawing control, or basic control).
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable anxiety
Started Sep 2022
Longer than P75 for not_applicable anxiety
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
September 29, 2022
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
February 13, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
February 20, 2025
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
June 30, 2025
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
June 30, 2025
CompletedJuly 23, 2025
July 1, 2025
2.8 years
February 13, 2025
July 17, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
State anxiety
State anxiety is measured via the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State Scale (STAI-S), a 20-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess state anxiety (current anxiety feelings). Participants report their state anxiety before and after the drawing session by responding to the STAI-S items (e.g., "I feel strained") using a scale from (1) not at all to (4) very much so. Sum scores are computed to quantify state anxiety before and after drawing, with possible scores ranging from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicated higher state anxiety.
State anxiety changes are evaluated from baseline (before drawing session) to post-drawing (i.e., about 30 minutes after baseline).
Secondary Outcomes (1)
Anxiety Symptoms
From baseline (before drawing session) to one week later (7 days after lab visit)
Other Outcomes (1)
Respiratory Sinus Arrythmia
From baseline (pre-drawing), throughout drawing session (~20 minutes), and to post-drawing (about 36 minutes after baseline start).
Study Arms (3)
Guided Drawing Group
EXPERIMENTALParticipants in this group were asked to complete a guided drawing activity (\~20 min). Participants were given a pencil and blank paper to use while they watched a pre-recorded video guiding them through a mindfulness and drawing activity. In the pre-recorded video, participants are instructed to draw elements of nature from exemplar photographs (e.g., leaves, twigs). The activity incorporates drawing with aspects of mindfulness meditation (i.e., being non-judgmental of thoughts and behaviors, focusing on breathing, and embodiment).
Free Drawing Control Group
ACTIVE COMPARATORIn the free drawing group, participants watched a video with brief instructions and then were asked to draw whatever they would like for about 20 minutes.
Basic Control Group
PLACEBO COMPARATORIn the basic control group, participants were asked to complete simple paper and pencil activities (e.g., connect the dots, mazes) on their own for about 20 minutes.
Interventions
The guided drawing activity is a 20 minute session which integrates mindfulness and drawing elements. Participants were given a pencil and blank paper to use while they watched a pre-recorded video guiding them through a mindfulness and drawing activity. In the pre-recorded video, participants are instructed to draw elements of nature from exemplar photographs (e.g., leaves, twigs). The activity incorporates drawing with aspects of mindfulness meditation (i.e., being non-judgmental of thoughts and behaviors, focusing on breathing, and embodiment).
Participants are instructed to draw freely for about 20 minutes.
Participants are instructed to complete simple paper and pencil activities (e.g., mazes, connect the dots) for about 20 minutes.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Within the specified age range (13 to 17.9 years for adolescent version; 18 to 25 years for adult version)
- Able to speak, read and understand English
You may not qualify if:
- Outside the specified age range (13 to 17.9 years for adolescent version; 18 to 25 years for adult version)
- Not able to speak, read and understand English
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Penn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States
Related Publications (3)
Kaufman, E.A., Xia, M., Fosco, G. et al. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale Short Form (DERS-SF): Validation and Replication in Adolescent and Adult Samples. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 38, 443-455 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-015-9529-3
BACKGROUNDAngulo M, Rooks BT, Gill M, Goldstein T, Sakolsky D, Goldstein B, Monk K, Hickey MB, Diler RS, Hafeman D, Merranko J, Axelson D, Birmaher B. Psychometrics of the screen for adult anxiety related disorders (SCAARED)- A new scale for the assessment of DSM-5 anxiety disorders. Psychiatry Res. 2017 Jul;253:84-90. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.02.034. Epub 2017 Feb 17.
PMID: 28359032BACKGROUNDSpielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., Lushene, R., Vagg, P. R., & Jacobs, G. A. (1983). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
BACKGROUND
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Sarah Myruski, PhD
The Pennsylvania State University
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Assistant Research Professor
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
February 13, 2025
First Posted
February 20, 2025
Study Start
September 29, 2022
Primary Completion
June 30, 2025
Study Completion
June 30, 2025
Last Updated
July 23, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-07
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Shared Documents
- ANALYTIC CODE
- Time Frame
- IPD will be available upon submission of manuscripts for review and remain available via link provided by the researchers and/or corresponding author(s).
- Access Criteria
- Reviewers and other interested researchers will be able to access the IPD via our osf.oi repository which will be linked in any relevant publications or journal submissions.
De-identified data will be shared on the osf.oi platform. We will share scored self-report and physiological data pertinent to publications from this study.