ERIC Number: EJ863470
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0742-1656
EISSN: N/A
Art and Migraine: Researching the Relationship between Artmaking and Pain Experience
Vick, Randy M.; Sexton-Radek, Kathy
Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, v26 n3 p114-123 2009
This research project extends a previous study (Vick & Sexton-Radek, 1999) in examining the relationship between artmaking and pain among 127 migraine sufferers. A basic overview of migraine symptoms and treatment is presented along with a discussion of concepts relating to "migraine art" in order to provide a context for this project. Surveys dealing with headache history, pain experience, and artmaking practices were mailed to 371 participants in a national migraine art competition; both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed. Participants reported that artmaking was more likely to trigger headaches than to alleviate them and that both the quantity and quality of studio work declined during headache episodes. In addition, participants identified numerous art materials and practices that they felt precipitated migraines and noted avoidance strategies they used to manage their headaches. The implications of these counterintuitive findings for art therapy practice are discussed. (Contains 4 tables, 3 figures and 1 footnote.)
Descriptors: Art Education, Art Materials, Pain, Correlation, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Surveys, Artists, Art Therapy
American Art Therapy Association. 5999 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304. Tel: 888-290-0878; Tel: 703-212-2238; Fax: 847-566-4580; e-mail: info@arttherapy.org; Web site: http://www.arttherapyjournal.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A