A Strength-Based Arts and Play Support Program for Young Survivors in Post-Quake China: Effects on Self-Efficacy, Peer Support, and Anxiety

A year after the earthquake in Sichuan, China, a strength-based arts and play support program was launched to promote the well-being of young survivors, and this study was designed to examine its effectiveness. It was hypothesized that participation in the program would have direct positive effects on general self-efficacy and peer support, and that these would mediate the effect of the program on anxiety. One hundred twelve Grade 4 students joined the study, the measures of which included the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Classmate Support Scale, and the Generalized Anxiety subscale in the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale. The results showed that participation in the program was associated with increased general self-efficacy and peer support, which lowered anxiety, although the relationship was not statistically significant. This study has provided insights for the development of a culturally sound arts and play program for young disaster victims in China.