Taiwan’s population is aging more rapidly than are those of many countries. Enabling older adults to maintain their physical and mental health and quality of life as they age is an urgent task. Many theories and solutions from the West are adopted due to cultural differences. In this study, to expand and adjust the localized practical experiences reported in the literature (Hendrikset al., 2019), we designed a relevant exploration group for older adults on the basis of the concept of positive art therapy to encourage them to perceive their advantages during the aging process. By drawing on rich life experience and exploring the

connotations of actual participation experience and adjusting for aging, we obtained novel insights into how the life happiness

of older adults in Taiwan can be improved. Our goal was to explore the subjective experiences of Taiwanese older adults in a positive art therapy group and examine the effect of these experiences on their aging adjustment. Eight healthy adults aged 50–65 years, retired or without a full-time job and living independently, participated in an eight-session positive art therapy program.

A phenomenological approach involving Hycner’s phenomenological orientation was used for analysis. A program was

implemented over eight consecutive weeks, with positive art therapy as the main theme. Each session lasted 2 hours, and seven

older adults participated in all sessions. One of the participants took one leave of absence and did not fully participate. This

program was based on the PERMA (Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationship, Meaning, and Achievemnet) happiness model

and had positive psychology as its creative theme. Its basic structure was flexibly adjusted depending on the actual participation

status of each participant. In the first week of the program, the group leader asked the participants to select magazine images

that reflected their current life to enable them to introduce themselves. Later on, the leader asked the participants to manipulate

these images by moving them around to reflect the life that they could foresee for themselves. In the second and third weeks, an

artwork theme referred to as “The Greatest Achievement” was adopted. Within this theme, the participants were asked to create

secondary artworks and were guided on how to appreciate their own and others’ work from an artistic perspective. They were

also encouraged to perceive the characteristics and strengths of each artwork. In the fourth week, discussions on achievements

and personal strengths were held, supplemented by a list of positive characteristics and exclusive badges. In the fifth week, a

creative theme referred to as “Mature Life Challenge” was adopted. In the sixth week, the participants were asked to create

another artwork while imagining how this artwork would change if they had someone with whom they could face a particular

challenge. Later on, the participants were asked to focus on their interpersonal relationships and resources. In the seventh

week, the participants were asked to express themselves through pieces of artistic paper of different textures. At the end of the

program, a portfolio was created to collect the artworks created over the preceding weeks. This process enabled the participants

to rename and sort the artworks. Once the program was complete, the subjective experiences of the participants were organized

into three stages: “Positive Art Therapy Group Participation to Visualize Mature Life and Outline the Ideal Aging Profile,” “Group Participation Experience to Connect with Different Aging Profiles and Expand Strengths and Resources,” and “Demonstrating

Flexibility and Diverse Aging Profiles.”

The aging adjustment process of the participants was summarized into three aspects. The first aspect was “Participation

in Positive Art Therapy Groups: Expressing and Observing Aging Experiences and Inner States” and reflected that the older

adults reflected upon their inner needs and life experiences through theme creation and art media, fostering self-concern through

group appreciation and feedback. The second aspect was “Creating in Groups: Using Different Media to Approach, Realize,

and Expand the Diversity of Aging Patterns” and reflected that the participants perceived various aging patterns through

artistic expression and employed multiple media formats to reveal their needs. The third aspect was “Developing a Unique

Aging Pattern through Participation in Positive Art Therapy Groups” and indicated facilitation of the integration, acceptance,

and appreciation of older adults through creative expression, fostering the development of positive life actions. Although the

participants had different experiences within the positive art therapy group, they all underwent three major processes in the

initial, middle, and final stages of the program. These processes involved changes in creative themes, variation in the use of art

media, and the formation of self-connections along with the transformation of various characteristics associated with aging.

Their creative process integrated positive themes, exploring them through image symbolism, color, fluidity, and plasticity.

Appreciating and examining artworks helped foster mutual learning and influence in the study group. Breakthroughs in

the use of media and materials emerged from group participation, shaping each participant’s unique experience. This approach

also enabled the participants to perceive a connection between their creations and their personal growth. The program provided

opportunities to foster positive actions in later life. Although each participant had a unique experience and process, the program

did have an overall effect in terms of aging adjustment. This effect included reflecting upon the inner needs associated with

aging; improving the ability to self-focus during this life phase; recognizing the value of maturity; broadening one’s perspective

to appreciate the diverse aspects of maturity; integrating, accepting, and appreciating the appearance of maturity; and promoting

positive aging actions.

Our findings offer practical recommendations for those wishing to lead positive art therapy groups with older adults. These

recommendations emphasize the integration of positive psychological concepts into art creation, diverse media, collaborative

group activities, and created artworks. First, participating in positive art therapy groups can help older adults understand their

own experiences and needs. They can use creative methods to explore personal problems related to aging. Second, creating in

groups and using various media formats can help older adults perceive and embrace the unique aspects of aging, enhancing

their acceptance of their aging process. Third, older adults’ participation in such groups can have a positive effect on their

interpersonal connections and help them establish new personal networks. Fourth, group participation offers various creative

and practical guidance methods that help older adults recognize their personal strengths and resources, thereby promoting

positive behaviors and preparing them to face future challenges. In terms of research, studies considering factors such as age

range, gender ratio, background differences, and data collection methods are required to advance research on positive art therapy

for older adults. From a practical perspective, designing positive art therapy groups for older adults should involve integrating

guided language based on positive psychology into art creation. This approach should include incorporating diverse art media,

engaging in collaborative creation and artwork appreciation, and organizing and documenting created artworks.

This study has some limitations. For instance, the group project was designed to consist of only eight sessions, each lasting 2 hours. This duration was limited by the participants’ willingness to engage, which in turn influenced the integrity of their

creations. Additionally, the artistic abilities of the participants were not evaluated before the program. These factors were not accounted for in the program’s design, and they represent areas of improvement in future studies.