Changes in younger stroke survivors’ body perception as indicated in body drawings: A comparison between Expressive Arts-based Intervention and control groups

ABSTRACT

Stroke-related deficits affect stroke survivors' perception of their bodies and possibly impede their progress in rehabilitation and well-being. This study adopted a pre-and post-test design to compare the changes in body perception among younger stroke survivors after participating in an 8-week Expressive Arts-based Intervention (EABI) (n = 32) with the control group (n = 30). Each participant partook in structured drawing interviews at baseline (T0) and 8-week follow-up/post-intervention (T1). The data were analyzed using content analysis. More EABI (n = 27) than control (n = 14) participants reported positive changes in body perception and applied lighter colours or created a more symmetrical drawing at T1. They shared that EABI promoted these positive changes by facilitating the reconnection with one's body and self. While some control participants experienced positive changes in body perception, others tended to apply darker colours or the same colour to show negative or no changes in body perception. More control (n = 8) than EABI (n = 3) participants reported negative thoughts about their bodies and negative influences from other individuals and the environment. The findings suggested that EABI can change stroke survivors' body perception. EABI can be considered one of the interventions that may help foster positive changes in body perception.

KEYWORDS:

• Stroke
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Body perception
• Rehabilitation
• Expressive arts

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to all the participated stroke survivors. The authors would also like to thank the great help from Dr. Janli XING for being involved in the data analysis process and providing constructive comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the General Research Fund, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (GRF/HKU/17609417)