Version 1
: Received: 6 August 2020 / Approved: 7 August 2020 / Online: 7 August 2020 (11:30:07 CEST)
How to cite:
Hermann, C. Report on Self-Management of Mental Wellbeing Using Bonsai as an Ecotherapeutic Art Tool. Preprints2020, 2020080190. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202008.0190.v1
Hermann, C. Report on Self-Management of Mental Wellbeing Using Bonsai as an Ecotherapeutic Art Tool. Preprints 2020, 2020080190. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202008.0190.v1
Hermann, C. Report on Self-Management of Mental Wellbeing Using Bonsai as an Ecotherapeutic Art Tool. Preprints2020, 2020080190. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202008.0190.v1
APA Style
Hermann, C. (2020). Report on Self-Management of Mental Wellbeing Using Bonsai as an Ecotherapeutic Art Tool. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202008.0190.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Hermann, C. 2020 "Report on Self-Management of Mental Wellbeing Using Bonsai as an Ecotherapeutic Art Tool" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202008.0190.v1
Abstract
Objective: The study investigated the benefit of practicing the art of bonsai and the well-being of practitioners. The art promotes relaxation, focus and art therapy that can have personal and emotional value in a self-help setting. When the bonsai tree is used as a healing object, it may improve the ability of the bonsai practitioner to adapt to adverse and stressful life events, such as the present global COVID-19 pandemic. Method: International bonsai artists (n = 255) participated in a study that examined the effect their bonsai had on their mental well-being. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with bonsai artists answering the question: “How has bonsai helped you?”. Results: Most participants acknowledged that being able to take care of their bonsais affected their mood in a positive manner. Discussion: Although the participants did not report overall improved mental health, participants expressed an improvement in their mood when being able to work on a bonsai tree. Conclusion: These findings are significant in that it can be useful in as a preventative and restorative manner in the mental well-being of people who practice the art.
Keywords
psychotherapy; mental health; self-management; intervention; art therapy; bonsai
Subject
Social Sciences, Psychology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
