The Role of Mandala Art in Rumination, Flow and Emotional Regulation

Abstract

The present study examined the role of mandala art in  rumination, flow state, and improving emotional regulation among young adults aged 18–25 years. This study is  rooted in analytical psychology and contemporary cognitive–emotional theories, the study aimed to investigate whether mandala art could serve as an effective art-based practice for psychological well-being. A quantitative pre–post experimental design was employed with a sample of 20 participants. Standardized measures assessing rumination, flow state, and emotional regulation were administered before and after a 15-day mandala art practice. Descriptive statistics was used to  indicate normal data distribution, paired samples t-test analyses revealed statistically significant differences between pre- and post-intervention scores across all three variables (p < .001), indicating a significant reduction in rumination and significant improvements in flow state and emotional regulation following the intervention. Correlation analyses showed no significant linear associations among the variables within the sample. The findings suggest that mandala art may function as a structured, mindfulness-based creative practice that promotes cognitive quieting, enhances immersive engagement, and supports adaptive emotional processing.