THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXPRESSIVE THERAPY IN REDUCING ANXIETY IN EARLY ADULTHOOD

Abstract

Coming into adulthood presents challenges as individuals are expected to release their reliance on their parents and put their best effort into standing on their own. Adults often face various challenges that necessitate their ability to adjust to changes. Any problems in early adulthood can cause anxiety. Anxiety without proper treatment can be one of the obstacles to living life, both physically and mentally. The purpose of this research is to find out the effectiveness of expressive therapy in reducing anxiety. The subjects in this study were five early adult males ranging from 20 to 28 years old and with moderate to high anxiety categories. Data collection techniques included observation, focus group discussion, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory scale (BAI). Anxiety experienced by subjects is about careers, success, and relationships with the opposite sex. The research method used is experimental research with a research design of one group pre- and post-test without a control group—subject determination technique using purposive sampling. Data analysis in this study used quantitative analysis to see differences between pre-test and post-test with parametric tests using Wilcoxon tests. Data analysis results showed significant differences in anxiety before and after expressive therapy, with a Z=-2,023 value and a significance of p=0,043 (p<0,05). The conclusion of this study is that expressive therapy is effective in reducing anxiety in early adults.