Art-of-Living Training: Developing an Intervention for Adoles-cents with Depression or Anxiety

1.1.Objective:The present paper describes two studies that aim at the transfer of the art-of-living into the clinical-therapeutic context. Study 1 aimed at the identification of those art-of-living components that show differences for adolescents who are suffering from anxiety or depression. In Study 2, a need-oriented and a predefined art-of-living training were developed, implemented and evaluated. 1.2.Design: Study 1 is based on a pre-experimental comparative design. Study 2 is a intervention study based on a randomized two factors multivariate 3x3 design with repeated measures. 1.3.Main Outcome measures:The main outcome measures are art-of-living, life satisfaction, depression and anxiety. 1.4.Results:Study 1 could show significant differences of the art-of-living subscales in the comparison of a clinical and a nonclinical sample. A specific pattern was identified for the clinical sample. The results of Study 2 show that the developed trainings improved the art-of-living (F(2,37) = 4.24, p = .02, η² = .67) as well as the satisfaction with life (F(2,37) = 8.19, p < .001, η² = .92). Furthermore, a reduction of depression could be achieved (F(2,37) = 6.45, p < .001, η² = .82). 1.5.Conclusion:In summary, the training successfully enhanced art-of-living and reduced depression. Limitations and benefits are discussed.