Mandala Coloring and Postpartum Blues

One of the art therapy techniques that can provide psychological support and healing is mandala painting. Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning 'circle'. The purpose of the circle is to encourage meditation, concentration and integration by narrowing or limiting the visual field towards the center. In mandala painting, the individual can focus their attention on the lines, stay in the moment, separate themselves from the concerns of the past and future and ensure that they remember the consciousness of the moment again. The energy and emotions of the individual can change with the rich variety of colors used in mandala painting. It can help the individual achieve spiritual calmness by silencing the chaos and sounds that disturb them. Studies in the literature have reported that mandala painting is an effective method in reducing negative moods and anxiety in individuals. Gray-Foti found in his study that mandala painting reduced the anxiety levels of new mothers and increased their self-confidence, while Özsavran and Akyıldız found that it increased the comfort and resilience of mothers with special needs children. In a meta-analysis study evaluating the effect of mandala painting on state anxiety in adults, it was determined that it was effective in reducing anxiety. However, no study has been found investigating the effect of mandala coloring on postpartum sadness.This study was planned as a randomized controlled study to help women who experience postpartum sadness get through this period more easily.

Inclusion criteria

• Between the ages of 18-35,
• Being between the 1st and 14th days postpartum
• Being able to read, understand and write Turkish,
• Having given birth at term (single birth at 38 weeks and above),
• Having given birth by normal vaginal delivery or cesarean section after an uncomplicated pregnancy
• Scoring 13 points or above on the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale
• Scoring 3 points or above on the Stein Blues Scale
• Having stable vital signs, not having undergone infertility treatment, not having a chronic disease (such as hypertension, diabetes), not experiencing severe depression, anxiety and stress, not having any chronic disease or not having a disease that may cause cognitive impairment (such as delirium, dementia, mental retardation), not having serious complications in the mother and volunteering to participate in the study will be included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Not meeting inclusion criteria