Evidence of the positive impact of arts and culture on health and wellbeing
UCL’s The Impact of Arts and Cultural Engagement on Population Health summarises findings from major cohort studies in the UK and USA that examined the relationship between arts and cultural engagement and health and wellbeing outcomes. Alongside epidemiological research, the researchers led by Dr Daisy Fancourt used a behavioural science approach to understand more about barriers and facilitators to engagement in the arts, particularly for people with mental health conditions. The longitudinal research demonstrates the influence of arts and cultural engagement on health outcomes over time.
The health benefits of the arts begin in childhood and are associated with physical and mental health behaviours in early and late adolescence. The researchers found links with a range of behaviours and perceptions including hyperactivity and inattention, prosocial behaviour, maladjustment, likelihood of criminality, self-control, perceived social support, likelihood of substance use, physical activity, and others.
Among adults, arts and cultural engagement can be used to support emotional regulation, enhance wellbeing and enhance mental health, including reducing the risk of developing mental health problems.
Among older adults, in addition to psychological benefits, the arts have protective associations against cognitive decline, dementia incidence, and multiple aspects of physical health and functioning including frailty, chronic pain, and disability, as well as better perceptions of ageing. Even lifespan is associated; those who are culturally engaged having a lower mortality risk.
A new study is to invite diverse young people aged 16-24 to co-create an online arts and culture intervention aimed at reducing anxiety and depression. The project, known as ORIGIN (Optimising cultural expeRIences for mental health in underrepresented younG people onlINe) is a joint venture between Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and researchers from Oxford University. ORIGIN builds on preliminary research in which an online cultural experience called Ways of Being was co-designed and tested for mental health in young people.