Clay and Anxiety Reduction: A One-Group, Pretest/Posttest Design with Patients on a Psychiatric Unit

Little research exists on using clay as an anxiety-reducing intervention with patients in psychiatric hospitals. This article reports on a study that used a one-group, pretest/posttest design with 49 adults in a psychiatric facility who created a clay pinch pot. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used as a pre- and posttest measure. Results revealed a significant decrease in anxiety and a significant gender interaction. Pretest mean scores for men were higher than those for women, rendering the amount of anxiety reduction significantly greater for men. These results provide evidence that clay work may effectively reduce state anxiety for adult psychiatric inpatients.