Abstract This quasi-experimental study investigated the impact of visual art making on the cortisol levels of 39 healthy adults. Participants provided saliva samples to assess cortisol levels before and after 45 minutes of art making. Participants also provided written responses about the experience at the end of the session. Results indicate that art making resulted in statistically significant lowering of cortisol levels. Participants' written responses indicated that they found the art-making session to be relaxing, enjoyable, helpful for learning about new aspects of self, freeing from constraints, an evolving process of initial struggle to later resolution, and about flow/losing themselves in the work. They also reflected that the session evoked a desire to make art in the future. There were weak associations between changes in cortisol level and age, time of day, and participant responses related to learning about one's self and references to an evolving process in art making. There were no significant differences in outcomes based on prior experiences with art making, media choice, or gender.

中文翻译：

---

艺术创作后皮质醇水平的降低和参与者的反应

摘要 这项准实验性研究调查了视觉艺术制作对 39 名健康成年人的皮质醇水平的影响。参与者提供唾液样本以评估艺术创作 45 分钟前后的皮质醇水平。与会者还在会议结束时提供了有关经验的书面答复。结果表明，艺术制作导致皮质醇水平在统计学上显着降低。参与者的书面回复表明，他们发现艺术创作课程是轻松、愉快的，有助于了解自我的新方面、摆脱束缚、从最初的挣扎到后来的解决的不断发展的过程，以及关于在生活中流动/迷失自己的过程。工作。他们还反映，这次会议唤起了对未来进行艺术创作的渴望。皮质醇水平的变化与年龄、一天中的时间以及参与者对自我了解和对艺术创作演变过程的引用的反应之间存在微弱的关联。基于艺术制作、媒体选择或性别的先前经验，结果没有显着差异。