This study examined the effectiveness of a culturally adapted mandala art-based intervention delivered in digital and physical formats in enhancing psychological well-being and calmness among young adults in Sarawak, Malaysia. A quantitative quasi-experimental design was employed with 48 participants equally allocated to a digital intervention group (n = 24) and a physical intervention group (n = 24), with equal gender representation in each group. The intervention incorporated traditional Sarawakian motifs into a structured mandala coloring activity. Psychological well-being was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), while calmness was measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and the Mann–Whitney U Test. Results indicated statistically significant pre- to post-intervention improvements in psychological well-being (z = −3.879, p < .001) and calmness (z = −2.901, p = .004) within the digital intervention group. No statistically significant differences were observed between the digital and physical groups; however, both modalities demonstrated improvements over time. These findings suggest that culturally grounded mandala-based art interventions may facilitate emotional regulation and psychological well-being among young adults. The digital delivery format offers enhanced accessibility and cultural and contextual relevance, highlighting its potential as a scalable and functionally adapted and culturally responsive digital mental health intervention.

Authors:
Ross Azura Zahit, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
Anastasia Darlene William, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
Sheilla Lim Omar Lim, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
Kartini Abd Ghani, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia

About the Presenter(s)
Ross Azura Zahit is a lecturer and Clinical Psychologist at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Malaysia). Her clinical and academic work focuses on mental health literacy, digital mental health tools, and culturally adaptive therapy approaches.

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