Causes And Duration Of Change Resulting From Art-Based Activities For Members Of The Australian Defence Force

Increasingly, military personnel are being exposed to arts-based rehabilitation activities that have been demonstrated as having positive effects in reducing both depressive and anxiety-based symptoms. However, little is known about the specific processes that are engaged by these activities, as well as the duration of positive effects. This study aimed to uncover the underlying contributors to the positive effects as recalled by the military personnel who undertook a four-week program of training leading to visual, written, musical or theatrical creations, in a nonclinical setting.The respondents reported benefits from the program, including sustained increases in behavioural activation, sense of belonging, flow and therapeutic alliance with the trainers during and following the program. Many respondents recalled that the positive effects of the program were enduring, lasting up to 24 months or longer. All four positive effects clustered strongly on a single factor. Most respondents felt they would have benefited from a follow-up activity after the conclusion of the program. Respondents who had a higher core self-evaluation score reported more benefits from the program than those who did not.