To evaluate the effects of mandala-centered group art therapy on emotional intelligence and sociality of
younger elementary school children, each of 10 participants with the written consent of his or her parents
was randomly assigned to the experimental group or the control group, among 20 children at the N
Elementary School in the D-borough of the S city. Twelve 50-minute therapy sessions were held once or
twice a week from April to June, 2014. The assessment tools for the pre-/post-/following- tests were the
Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) and Social Skills Diagnostic Screen. As the result, first, the emotional
intelligence scores were statistically significantly improved in emotion recognition, emotional expression and
regulation regions, whereas there was no statistical significance to empathy. Second, the social scores
showed statistically significant improvement in accountability, cooperativeness and interpersonal relations, but
the sense of industry was not so significant. Finally, as the session progressed, children were able to show
their emotional expression well enough, to experience their absorption in this program, and to show
advanced dynamic sociality through their collaboration. This mandala-centered group art therapy was
concluded to have the effects of improving the emotional intelligence and social skills of younger
elementary school children.