Abstract

The purpose of this study is to verify the effectiveness of developing and applying a strength-based art coaching program to improve psychological and social maturity for slow learners attending elementary school. To this end, 32 slow elementary school learners living in the Seoul area were selected to form 16 experimental groups and 16 control groups. A total of 10 session of strength-based art coaching programs were conducted once a week for 60 minutes for 16 experimental groups. The main contents of the program consisted of recognizing positive psychological strengths and utilizing strengths in daily life, recognizing and empathizing with my emotions and other people's feelings, and learning and expressing specific ways of expressing my thoughts. To verify the effectiveness of the program, psychological and social maturity tests (emotional stability, social competence, communication skills, school life adaptation, interpersonal friendliness) were conducted in advance, post, 4 weeks later, and 2 weeks later. The implications of the study through the results of this study, limitations of the study, and suggestions for future research were discussed.