The Difference in Self-Efficacy Between First Year and Final Year Graduate Students in Art Therapy Training
Graduation Date
Spring 2014
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Degree Granting Institution
Notre Dame de Namur University
Program Name
Art Therapy
Dean
John Lemmon, PhD
First Reader
Jennifer Harrison, PsyD, DAAETS, ATR-BC
Second Reader
Richard Carolan, EdD, ATR-BC
Abstract
This study investigated whether there is a difference in self-efficacy between first year and final year graduate students in an art therapy program. There were 41 participants in the study. The researcher collected data through online survey and used unpaired t-test to analyze the data. The results show that there is nonsignificant difference in the scores on mean between first year and final year graduate students in terms of self-efficacy, the ability of self-care, social support, and stress; but, the standard deviation of final year students is significant greater than first year students in terms of self-efficacy, the ability of self-care, and social support. The results of the study did not support the hypothesis that graduate students who have more art therapy training would have higher self-efficacy than first year students. It might be beneficial for students and future studies that art therapy programs regularly offer therapeutic art activities after school as part of school curriculum would have maximum impact on their students.