The purpose of this study was to find out that what effect has group art therapy with artistic activities using the Korean traditional paper on improvements in social skills of the mild mentally retarded middle school students. The objects of the study were special middle
school in G city for mentally retarded students(mail-2, femail-1) who had shown lack of
social skills with sluggish communication skills. The sessions were held for 60 minutes
twice a week for 13 weeks from 2003. 9. 9 to 2003. 12. 16. Main purpose of the group art
therapy was to look into what effect has group art therapy with artistic activities using the
Korean traditional paper on social skills such as the cooperation, self-expression, and
self-regulation as subcategories with sub-questionaries.
I made the questionaries(20 questions) used to evaluate their social skills which were
made by Kin Hyang-Ji who refered to Social Skills Intervention Guide which was made by
Gresham and Elliott(1991). These were examined by Dr. Gong Maria and Lee Dal-Yup to
check propriety for this study. The levels of the value make points from 1 to 4 by each
standards of "superior, normal, below normal, bad". These points were offered by trained
observers. The conclusions were following;
First, group art therapy with artistic activities using the Korean traditional paper had a
positive effect on mild mentally retarded students.
Second, what effect has group art therapy with artistic activities using the Korean traditional paper on self-expression of mild mentally retarded students.
Third, what effect has group art therapy with artistic activities using the Korean traditional paper on self-regulation of mild mentally retarded students.
But, there still remain needs to study further for the uses of the Korean traditional paper
as remedial sources for not only mentally retarded child but also other objects.
Key Words : Korean traditional paper, Group art therapy, Mild mentally retarded middle
school student, Social skills