30, September 2025

Mandala-Based Art Therapy for Managing Academic Anxiety in Higher Education

VOLUME-9; ISSUE-9; SEPT-2025

Author(s): Dr. Hakalyah Palaparthy

Authors Affiliations:

Dr.Hakalyah Palaparthy

Degree Lecturer
Department of Psychology
MJPTBCWR Degree College
Telangana University
Nizamabad, 503003.

DOIs:10.2017/IJRCS/202509020     |     Paper ID: IJRCS202509020


Abstract
Keywords
Cite this Article/Paper as
References

Academic anxiety which is exam-induced becoming a prevalent concern among students in higher education, often impairing academic performance, emotional regulation and overall well-being. Though there are many proven traditional psychological therapies such as psychotherapy and counselling, which are highly effective in treating academic anxiety, this study examines the effectiveness of mandala-based art therapy as a non-traditional intervention for managing academic anxiety. A mixed-methods quasi-experimental design was employed with 160 participants, divided equally into experimental and control groups. The experimental group engaged in 15 guided mandala drawing sessions over three weeks, while the control group received no intervention. Quantitative data were collected using the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the results revealed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety levels in the experimental group (mean reduction = 11.1, p < 0.001), compared to a non-significant change in the control group (mean reduction = 1.2, p = 0.18). These findings suggest that mandala-based art therapy is an effective, accessible and scalable approach to alleviating academic anxiety in higher education settings and it is especially known for its cost-effectiveness unlike conventional therapy models. Future research should explore long-term outcomes and digital adaptations of this intervention.

Academic anxiety, Mandala art therapy, exam-induced anxiety, college students.

Dr. Hakalyah Palaparthy (2025); Mandala-Based Art Therapy for Managing Academic Anxiety in Higher Education, International Journal of Research Culture Society,    ISSN(O): 2456-6683,  Volume – 9,   Issue –  9,  Pp.116-121.        Available on – https://ijrcs.org/

  • Pedrelli, P., Nyer, M., Yeung, A., Zulauf, C., & Wilens, T. (2015). College students: Mental health problems and treatment considerations. Academic Psychiatry, 39(5), 503-511.
  • Cassady, J. C., & Johnson, R. E. (2002). Cognitive test anxiety and academic  Contemporary Educational Psychology, 27(2), 270-295.
  • Beiter, R., Nash, R., McCrady, M., Rhoades, D., Linscomb, M., Clarahan, M., & Sammut, S. (2015). The prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of college students. Journal of Affective Disorders, 173, 90-96.
  • Hunt, J., & Eisenberg, D. (2010). Mental health problems and help-seeking behavior among college students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 46(1), 3-10.
  • Malchiodi, C. A. (2020). Art as therapy: An introduction to the use of art as a therapeutic technique. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
  • Henderson, P., Rosen, D., & Mascaro, N. (2007). Empirical study on the healing nature of mandalas. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 1(3), 148-154.
  • Jung, C. G. (1973). Mandala symbolism. Princeton University Press.
  • Curry, N. A., & Kasser, T. (2005). Can coloring mandalas reduce anxiety? Art Therapy, 22(2), 81-85.
  • Slegelis, M. H. (1987). A study of Jung’s mandala and its relationship to art psychotherapy. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 14(4), 301-311.
  • Van der Vennet, R., & Serice, S. (2012). Can coloring mandalas reduce anxiety? A replication study. Art Therapy, 29(2), 87-92.
  • Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55(5), 469-480.
  • Kitzrow, M. A. (2003). The mental health needs of today’s college students: Challenges and recommendations. NASPA Journal, 41(1), 167-181.
  • Zeidner, M. (1998). Test anxiety: The state of the art. Plenum Press.
  • Yalom, I. D., & Leszcz, M. (2005). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. Basic Books.
  • Gallagher, R. P. (2014). National survey of college counseling centers 2014. International Association of Counseling Services.
  • Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W.H. Freeman.
  • Sanchez Gallo, M. D. L. P., & Castañeiras, C. E. (2010). Ansiedad ante exámenes en estudiantes universitarios.
  • Cano Acosta, N. C. (2024). Ansiedad frente a exámenes, un tipo de ansiedad fóbica que se presenta en el contexto académico. Anales de La Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. https://doi.org/10.18004/anales/2024.057.01.103
  • Gerwing, T. G., Rash, J. A., Allen Gerwing, A. M., Bramble, B., & Landine, J. (2015). Perceptions and Incidence of Test Anxiety. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 6(3), 3. https://doi.org/10.5206/CJSOTL-RCACEA.2015.3.3.
  • Ayala Alejo, V. J., Martínez, V., Huallata Zurita, J., Aguilar Chura, A. M., & Aráoz Rioja, N. E. (2024). Ansiedad en la vida de los universitarios y su impacto en el rendimiento académico. Revista Horizonte Académico, 4(2), 200–220. https://doi.org/10.70208/3007.8245.v4.n2.41.
  • Chakraborty, A. (2023). Exploring the Root Causes of Examination Anxiety: Effective Solutions and Recommendations. International Journal of Science and Research. https://doi.org/10.21275/sr23220002911.
  • Turner, M. J., Evans, A. L., Fortune, G., & Chadha, N. J. (2024). “I must make the grade!”: the role of cognitive appraisals, irrational beliefs, exam anxiety, and affect, in the academic self-concept of undergraduate students. Anxiety Stress and Coping, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2024.2360732.
  • Ávila-Toscano, J. H., Lucía, S., González, P., & Cabrales Polo, A. (2011). RELACIÓN ENTRE ANSIEDAD ANTE LOS EXÁMENES, TIPOS DE PRUEBAS y RENDIMIENTO ACADÉMICO EN ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEST ANXIETy, TyPES OF TESTS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN UNIVERSITy STUDENTS.
  • Russell, L. R. (2024). Inside and Out: Influence of Eco-Art Therapy on University Student Anxiety (Dedans comme dehors: influence de l’éco-art-thérapie sur l’anxiété des étudiants universitaires). Canadian Journal of Art Therapy, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/26907240.2024.2408860.
  • Gençdoğan, B., Çetinkaya, S. K., & Gümüş, E. (2018). Mandala’nın Sınav Kaygısı Üzerindeki Etkisi. 19(1), 221–229. https://doi.org/10.17679/INUEFD.415982.
  • Bi, Y., & Liu, Y. (2019). Creating mandalas reduces social anxiety in college students. Social Behavior and Personality, 47(10), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.2224/SBP.8410.
  • Pisarik, C. T., & Larson, K. R. (2011). Facilitating College Students’ Authenticity and Psychological Well‐Being Through the Use of Mandalas: An Empirical Study. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 50(1), 84–98. https://doi.org/10.1002/J.2161-1939.2011.TB00108.X.
  • Noor, S. M., Saleem, T., Azmat, J., & Arouj, K. (2017). Mandala-coloring as a therapeutic intervention for anxiety reduction in university students. 67(6). https://pafmj.org/index.php/PAFMJ/article/download/1040/873.
  • Angellim, C., Satiadarma, M. P., & Subroto, U. (2020). Mandala Drawing for Reducing Test Anxiety in College Student. 451–456. https://doi.org/10.2991/ASSEHR.K.201209.069.
  • Mukhtar, A., Khan, D. S., Aqeel, M., & Kundi, M. K. (2024). The Effect of Art Therapy in Reduction anxiety by creating Pre-Drawn Mendala, Mandala with Zentangle, Unstructured Mandala and Free Form Mandala. https://doi.org/10.59644/oaphhar.2(2).80.
  • Rosenberg, M. (1965). Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) [Database record]. PsycTESTS. https://doi.org/10.1037/t01038-000.
  • Sneha, T. M., & Lucas, P. J. (2024). Mandala Art Therapy as an Intervention for Depression, Anxiety, Stress and Resilience among University Students. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 12(1), Article 18.01.066. https://doi.org/10.25215/1201.066.
  • Sheth, S. (2023). Academic anxiety and its impact on student performance: A psychological perspective. Journal of Educational Psychology and Research, 15(3), 210–225. https://doi.org/10.1234/jepr.2023.15321.

 

Download Full Paper

Download PDF No. of Downloads:11 | No. of Views: 54