Creative Arts Therapy on the Mental Health of Students in Smoke-free Universities

This study explored the mental health of students in smoke-free universities and the influence of creative arts therapy during COVID-19 pandemic period. 1) The survey was conducted from March to April, 2020, and students in smoke-free universities were invited to fill out and forward the questionnaire through social software such as QQ and WeChat. The subjects of the survey are 800 students studying in smoke-free colleges and universities in South China. 2) The experimental research method was adopted. 40 students in smoke-free universities suffering from psychological stress and depression caused by COVID-19 pandemic were divided into 20 experimental groups and 20 control groups. The control group received no intervention treatment, while the experimental group received creative arts therapy. The survey data of mental health of students in smoke-free universities, mental health assessment standard data and self-esteem scale (SES) were observed. Results: A total of 850 questionnaires were collected, of which 839 were valid, and the effective response rate was 98.7%. As for the scores of the new psychological status of students in smoke-free universities during covid-19 pandemic period and mental health of students in smoke-free universities, the slight degree accounted for the highest proportion (39.7%), followed by the moderate degree of 34.2%. And 47% of the respondents felt lonely, decadent, irritable, emotionally fluctuating and difficult to concentrate. the results of self-esteem scale (SES) showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups before intervention (t=1.782, P=0.08>0.05). After intervention, the score of the study group was 42.74±2.69 points, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (36.11±4.58 points), and the difference was statistically significant (Z=-1.192, P=0.04<0.05). Conclusion: about 53% of the respondents were in good mental health during the epidemic period, and they were able to adjust themselves even if they were in slightly bad mood. However, 47% of the respondents felt lonely, decadent, irritable, emotionally fluctuating and difficult to concentrate. After the intervention of creative arts therapy, the scores of SES indicated that students in smoke-free universities' self-worth and self-acceptance were increased, showing the release of anxiety and mental stress to a certain extent.