“Gurit nin Paglaom:” Houseparents’ Evaluation on the Effectiveness of Expressive Arts Therapy for the Abandoned and Neglected Children

Abstract

Child neglect and abandonment have serious emotional and psychological effects on children, making early intervention crucial. This study examined the effectiveness of expressive arts therapy as an intervention for abandoned and neglected children at a children's center in Albay. Expressive arts therapy integrates visual arts, music, movement, and painting to provide emotional support and healing. A mixed- method sequential explanatory design was used, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) were administered to houseparents to assess changes in children’s emotional regulation, conduct, hyperactivity, peer relationships, and social behavior before and after therapy. An experimental research design compared a group receiving expressive arts therapy with a control group. Pre-evaluation results showed that children had emotional and behavioral difficulties, with peer problems and hyperactivity in borderline or abnormal ranges. Post-evaluation results indicated improvements in emotional regulation and conduct, but peer and behavioral issues remained borderline. A key finding of this study is that statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the experimental and control group, indicating that expressive arts therapy, when used in isolation, may be insufficient to achieve substance behavioral improvement. Despite this, qualitative data underscored the importance of structured implementation, tailored interventions, and caregiver involvement to maximize the effectiveness of therapy. These insights suggest that expressive arts therapy may benefit from integrating with other therapeutic approaches to more effectively support institutionalized children's social and emotional well-being. Future research should investigate such integrative models further to enhance therapeutic outcomes.