Responsive Therapeutic Environments: A Dual-Track Review of the Research Literature and Design Case Studies in Art Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Art therapy serves as a crucial intervention modality for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), demonstrating unique value in emotional expression, sensory integration, and social communication. However, current practice presents critical challenges, including the disconnect between design e...
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2025-08-01
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| author | Jing Liang Jingxuan Jiang Jinghao Hei Jiaqi Zhang |
| author_facet | Jing Liang Jingxuan Jiang Jinghao Hei Jiaqi Zhang |
| author_sort | Jing Liang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Art therapy serves as a crucial intervention modality for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), demonstrating unique value in emotional expression, sensory integration, and social communication. However, current practice presents critical challenges, including the disconnect between design expertise and clinical needs, unclear mechanisms of environmental factors’ impact on therapeutic outcomes, and insufficient evidence-based support for technology integration. Purpose: This study aimed to construct an evidence-based theoretical framework for art therapy environment design for children with autism, clarifying the relationship between environmental design elements and therapeutic effectiveness. Methodology: Based on the Web of Science database, this study employed a dual-track approach comprising bibliometric analysis and micro-qualitative content analysis to systematically examine the knowledge structure and developmental trends. Research hotspots were identified through keyword co-occurrence network analysis using CiteSpace, while 24 representative design cases were analyzed to gain insights into design concepts, emerging technologies, and implementation principles. Key Findings: Through keyword network visualization analysis, this study identified ten primary research clusters that were systematically categorized into four core design elements: sensory feedback design, behavioral guidance design, emotional resonance design, and therapeutic support design. A responsive therapeutic environment conceptual framework was proposed, encompassing four interconnected components based on the ABC model from positive psychology: emotional, sensory, environmental, and behavioral dimensions. Evidence-based design principles were established emphasizing child-centeredness, the promotion of multisensory expression, the achievement of dynamic feedback, and appropriate technology integration. Research Contribution: This research establishes theoretical connections between environmental design elements and art therapy effectiveness, providing a systematic design guidance framework for interdisciplinary teams, including environmental designers, clinical practitioners, technology developers, and healthcare administrators. The framework positions technology as a therapeutic mediator rather than a driver, ensuring technological integration supports rather than interferes with children’s natural creative impulses. This contributes to creating more effective environmental spaces for art therapy activities for children with autism while aligning with SDG3 goals for promoting mental health and reducing inequalities in therapeutic access. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba4fdadd4b1a428aa4ced28ad9b428cf |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba4fdadd4b1a428aa4ced28ad9b428cf2025-08-20T03:02:58ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-08-011515273510.3390/buildings15152735Responsive Therapeutic Environments: A Dual-Track Review of the Research Literature and Design Case Studies in Art Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum DisorderJing Liang0Jingxuan Jiang1Jinghao Hei2Jiaqi Zhang3College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, ChinaCollege of Design and Innovation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, ChinaCollege of Design and Innovation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, ChinaEdinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, 74 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9DF, UKArt therapy serves as a crucial intervention modality for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), demonstrating unique value in emotional expression, sensory integration, and social communication. However, current practice presents critical challenges, including the disconnect between design expertise and clinical needs, unclear mechanisms of environmental factors’ impact on therapeutic outcomes, and insufficient evidence-based support for technology integration. Purpose: This study aimed to construct an evidence-based theoretical framework for art therapy environment design for children with autism, clarifying the relationship between environmental design elements and therapeutic effectiveness. Methodology: Based on the Web of Science database, this study employed a dual-track approach comprising bibliometric analysis and micro-qualitative content analysis to systematically examine the knowledge structure and developmental trends. Research hotspots were identified through keyword co-occurrence network analysis using CiteSpace, while 24 representative design cases were analyzed to gain insights into design concepts, emerging technologies, and implementation principles. Key Findings: Through keyword network visualization analysis, this study identified ten primary research clusters that were systematically categorized into four core design elements: sensory feedback design, behavioral guidance design, emotional resonance design, and therapeutic support design. A responsive therapeutic environment conceptual framework was proposed, encompassing four interconnected components based on the ABC model from positive psychology: emotional, sensory, environmental, and behavioral dimensions. Evidence-based design principles were established emphasizing child-centeredness, the promotion of multisensory expression, the achievement of dynamic feedback, and appropriate technology integration. Research Contribution: This research establishes theoretical connections between environmental design elements and art therapy effectiveness, providing a systematic design guidance framework for interdisciplinary teams, including environmental designers, clinical practitioners, technology developers, and healthcare administrators. The framework positions technology as a therapeutic mediator rather than a driver, ensuring technological integration supports rather than interferes with children’s natural creative impulses. This contributes to creating more effective environmental spaces for art therapy activities for children with autism while aligning with SDG3 goals for promoting mental health and reducing inequalities in therapeutic access.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2735autism spectrum disorderart therapyenvironmental designevidence-based designresponsive environmentsustainable development goals (SDGs) |
| spellingShingle | Jing Liang Jingxuan Jiang Jinghao Hei Jiaqi Zhang Responsive Therapeutic Environments: A Dual-Track Review of the Research Literature and Design Case Studies in Art Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Buildings autism spectrum disorder art therapy environmental design evidence-based design responsive environment sustainable development goals (SDGs) |
| title | Responsive Therapeutic Environments: A Dual-Track Review of the Research Literature and Design Case Studies in Art Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_full | Responsive Therapeutic Environments: A Dual-Track Review of the Research Literature and Design Case Studies in Art Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_fullStr | Responsive Therapeutic Environments: A Dual-Track Review of the Research Literature and Design Case Studies in Art Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Responsive Therapeutic Environments: A Dual-Track Review of the Research Literature and Design Case Studies in Art Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_short | Responsive Therapeutic Environments: A Dual-Track Review of the Research Literature and Design Case Studies in Art Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_sort | responsive therapeutic environments a dual track review of the research literature and design case studies in art therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder |
| topic | autism spectrum disorder art therapy environmental design evidence-based design responsive environment sustainable development goals (SDGs) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2735 |
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