Impact of Digital and Traditional Coloring on Death Anxiety Among Older Adults

This study examined the impact of digital versus traditional mandala coloring on death anxiety levels among 69 adults over the age of 50. Participants were randomly assigned to a digital coloring, traditional coloring, or non-art activity (completing a word search) and levels of death anxiety were compared following a death anxiety induction. We hypothesized digital and traditional coloring conditions would result in lower levels of death anxiety compared to non-art activity, but traditional coloring would result in the lowest levels of death anxiety. Results indicated no main effect for the experimental condition, but among participants low in technology literacy, traditional coloring resulted in lower death anxiety compared to digital coloring, suggesting its therapeutic value.