Art integrated social science teaching package for enhancing psychological wellbeing stress management and academic achievement of secondary school students

Abstract

The study entitled “Art Integrated Social Science Teaching Package for Enhancing Psychological Wellbeing, Stress Management, and Academic Achievement of Secondary School Students” seeks to develop and validate an art-integrated instructional package for social science education and evaluate its impact on enhancing psychological wellbeing, stress management, and academic achievement among secondary school students. The research underscores the importance of aesthetic and art-based pedagogy in improving students’ mental health, creativity, and learning outcomes. Grounded in theories of constructivism, multiple intelligences, and experiential learning, the study investigates how art integration enhances cognitive, emotional, and psychomotor domains. The study identifies three key dependent variables: psychological wellbeing, stress management, and academic achievement, and one independent variable, the Art Integrated Social Science Teaching Package. Psychological wellbeing, stress management, and academic achievement are assessed through scales and achievement tests developed and standardized by the investigator. Utilizing an experimental pre-test post-test non- equivalent group design, data were collected from secondary school students in the Thrissur and Palakkad districts. The findings highlight the increasing psychological distress among students due to modernization and unhealthy competition, advocating for a shift toward joyful, creative, and culturally rooted pedagogy. The Art Integrated Package, based on indigenous art forms such as music, drama, dance, painting, and puppetry, provides experiential and equitable learning opportunities. It significantly improves students’ psychological wellbeing, enhances stress management, and boosts academic achievement in social science. The study supports the implementation of art-integrated and holistic learning strategies recommended by NEP 2020 and UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 and SDG 4). It concludes that art integration in education fosters creativity, emotional resilience, and academic excellence, contributing to overall learner development