Art-Based Intervention to Promote Psychological Adjustment, Self-Concept, and Quality of Life in Children: Protocol for a Cluster Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.

Authors

Sandra Henriques, Ricardo Pinto, Jorge Oliveira, Filipa Sampaio

Published in

JMIR research protocols. Volume 15. Pages e84994. Aug 12, 2026. Epub Aug 12, 2026.

Abstract

Children's mental health is a critical public health priority, with approximately 8% of children aged 10 years or younger experiencing mental, behavioral, or emotional disorders. Despite evidence supporting early intervention, access to mental health services remains limited, particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Art-based interventions have emerged as promising approaches to support mental health and socioemotional development. However, significant gaps persist in understanding their efficacy, scalability, and long-term impact.
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a community-based visual arts intervention on children's self-concept, psychological adjustment, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in vulnerable communities.
This study is a cluster nonrandomized controlled trial with children from socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Children aged 6 to 12 years (n=156; intervention: n=104, 66.7%; waitlist control: n=52, 33.3%) will be recruited through schools and community projects. Allocation to the intervention or waitlist control group will be based on neighborhood or cluster membership. The intervention consists of 1-hour weekly visual arts sessions over 9 months led by a professional artist, culminating in community art exhibitions. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (T1) and postintervention assessment (T2) using validated measures: the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for psychological adjustment, the Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC) for self-concept, and the Child Health Utility 9D (CHU9D) for HRQoL, as well as societal resource use and related costs. Quantitative data will be analyzed using regression models and intention-to-treat principles.
This study was funded in September 2023. Recruitment began in March 2024 and ended in July 2025. As of April 2024, a total of 179 participants had been enrolled. Data collection was completed in July 2025, and analysis is expected to begin in April 2026. Results are anticipated to be published in September 2026.
This project has the potential to enhance children's self-concept, psychological adjustment, and HRQoL through participation in a community-based visual arts intervention. The study design, with assessments at preintervention and postintervention time points, will provide valuable insights into the trajectories of psychosocial and quality-of-life outcomes in this population. In addition, the combination of psychosocial assessment and economic evaluation will generate important evidence on the cost-effectiveness of art-based interventions, informing both educational and public health decision-making.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07165704; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07165704.
DERR1-10.2196/84994.

PMID:
42585664
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Aug 2026.

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