At any skill level, making art reduces stress hormones

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-06/du-aas061516.php

Public Release: 15-Jun-2016
At any skill level, making art reduces stress hormones
Cortisol lowers significantly after just 45 minutes of art creation
Drexel University

Whether you're Van Gogh or a stick-figure sketcher, a new Drexel University study found that making art can significantly reduce stress-related hormones in your body.

Although the researchers from Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions believed that past experience in creating art might amplify the activity's stress-reducing effects, their study found that everyone seems to benefit equally.

"It was surprising and it also wasn't," said Girija Kaimal, EdD, assistant professor of creative arts therapies. "It wasn't surprising because that's the core idea in art therapy: Everyone is creative and can be expressive in the visual arts when working in a supportive setting. That said, I did expect that perhaps the effects would be stronger for those with prior experience."

•••••