The effect of art on social anxiety levels and anger control skills in adolescents

Introduction and Objective: This study aims to reveal the relationship of art with the level of social anxiety and anger management skills in adolescents interested in art. Material and Method: In this prospective study, the effects of art on the levels of social anxiety and anger management skills in adolescents in the 10-19 age group were investigated by comparing them with the control group of adolescents who were not engaged in art. The sample consists of 300 adolescents in the 10-19 age group who attends in high school and different art clubs in September in the 2020-2021 academic year. The study used the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) and the Trait Anger and Anger Expression Styles Scale (TAAESS). Results: Of those engaged in art, 44.7% was male, 55.3% was female, and 42.7% of the control group was male, and 57.3% was female. The average age of those engaged in art was 16.10±1.437, and the average age of the control group was 16.43±0.937. Of the mothers of those engaged in art, 34.7% was literate, 31.3% was primary school graduate, 16.7% was secondary school graduate, 12.7% was high school graduate, and 4.7% had a bachelor's degree, whereas of the mothers of the control group, 36% was literate, 40% was primary school graduate, 14% was secondary school graduate, 6.7% was high school graduate, and 3.3% had a bachelor's degree. Of the fathers of those engaged in art, 9.3% was literate, 26% was primary school graduate, 24.7% was secondary school graduate, 28% was high school graduate, 10.7% had a bachelor's degree, and 1.3% had a Master's degree and above, whereas of the fathers of those in the control group, 8.7% was literate, 29.3% was primary school graduate, 34.7% was secondary school graduate, 16.7% was high school graduate, 9.3% had a bachelor's degree, and 1.3% had a Master's degree and above. Looking at the monthly family incomes, 10.7% of those engaged in art had an income of 0-1500 TL, 38.7% had 1500-3000 TL, 19.3% had 3000-5000 TL, had 11.3% 5000 TL and above, and 20% didn't know the family income, whereas 11.3% of the control group had a family income of 0-1500 TL, 42.7% had 1500-3000 TL, 22.7% had 3000-5000 TL, 6.7% had 5000 TL and above, and 16.7% didn't know the family income. Considering the artistic activities of the participants, 48% was interested in painting, 12% was engaged in music (violin), 10% in music (saz), 6.7% in music (violin and piano), 6% in music (guitar), and 3.3% was engaged in music (piano). Looking at the time engaged in art, 42.7% was engaged in art more than 3 years, 26.7% was between 2-3 years, 13.3% was 1-2 years, 10.7% was 6 months to 1 year, and 6.7% was engaged in these activities for less than 6 months. Considering the ways that the participants perform their artistic activities, 62% was using the means provided by the school, 22% was attending an institution, 13.3% was working alone at home, 2% was working in groups with his/her friends, and 0.7% was taking private lessons. Looking at the average sub-scale scores of the SAS-A, the fear of negative evaluation (FNE) sub-scale score average of those engaged in art was 2.231±0.966, the social avoidance and distress in general (SAD-General) average was 2.020±0.833, and the social avoidance and distress in new situations (SAD-New) score average was 2.793±0.710, whereas the FNE average of the control group was 2.171±0.862, the SAD-General average was 1.966±0.861, and the SAD-New average was 2.784±0.625. Considering the average sub-scale scores of the TAAESS, the trait anger sub-scale score average of those engaged in art was 2.349±0.673, the anger/in average was 2.125±0.589, the anger/out average was 2.099±0.667, and the anger/control average was 2.851±0,617, whereas the trait anger average of the control group was 2.551±0.634, the anger/in average was 2.200±0.575, the anger/out average was 2.259±0.684, and the anger/control average was 2.537±0.593. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient for the SAS-A was found to be 85.3% in those engaged in art. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of the TAAESS was found to be 81.8% in those engaged in art. Conclusion: A correlation was found between those engaged in art and social anxiety and anger management. However, no significant effect was observed in the group of adolescents who were not interested in any activity. Keywords: Art, Social Anxiety, Anger