Art-Based Community Engagement for Psychological Well-Being: Evaluating a Participatory Collage Intervention among Clinical Psychologists

Firdhan Aria Wijaya

Authors

Firdhan Aria Wijaya Universitas Pattimura, Indonesia

Keywords:

Art-Based Intervention, Community Engagement, Psychological Well-Being, Reflective Practice, Social Connectedness

Abstract

This study evaluates the effectiveness of an art-based community engagement intervention in enhancing the psychological well-being of clinical psychologists through a participatory collage workshop. Addressing the growing emotional burden and limited reflective spaces among early-career practitioners, the research explores how expressive, non-verbal, and community-oriented approaches complement conventional cognitive-verbal interventions. A qualitative design based on Participatory Action Research (PAR) was employed, positioning participants as active co-creators. The study involved four stages: collaborative needs assessment, workshop implementation, participatory observation, and reflective evaluation through interviews and group discussions. Data were collected via observations, semi-structured interviews, and visual artifact analysis, and analyzed thematically using an interpretive framework. Findings reveal that the intervention enhances three dimensions of psychological well-being: reflective capacity, emotional regulation, and social connectedness. Participants demonstrated improved ability to articulate complex emotional experiences through visual symbolism, while the creative process facilitated stress reduction and provided a non-judgmental reflective space. Additionally, the community-based format strengthened interpersonal relationships and fostered collective support. This study contributes by integrating art-based intervention and community engagement within professional practice, offering a participatory framework for psychological well-being. It also provides empirical insights from a Global South context, enriching interdisciplinary and community-based approaches to sustainable development.

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