Postdoctoral researcher Taru-Anneli Koivisto and visiting researcher Taru Tähti from the University of the Arts Helsinki explored the potential of art and cultural activities to enhance the health and well-being of various age and population groups.
The peer-reviewed article published in Lääkärilehti, Finnish Medical Journal, concludes that art and cultural activities promote physical and cognitive health and well-being across all age groups included in the review study.
Many of the publications included in the review reported or touched on the impact or support of art and cultural activities on health-promoting behaviors, such as stress management and the improvement of social relationships.
Koivisto and Tähti reviewed the latest peer-reviewed data from 2014 to 2024, selecting 20 publications from a total of 9,804 references.
Art and culture as drivers of well-being
Research shows that engagement in art and cultural activities positively impacts well-being across all age groups, from newborns to the elderly. Significant results were achieved, particularly in the areas of social factors, holistic well-being, and prevention. Music, dance, and visual arts strengthened participants’ social networks, fostered a sense of belonging, and improved stress management.
Cultural prescription programs enriched traditional health care models and improved, for instance, mental well-being, especially among those who engaged in artistic activities for over 100 hours per year.
Koivisto and Tähti chose the rapid review method due to the broad scope of the research area and the challenges related to its definition and practical delineation.
A rapid review is an accelerated version of a systematic literature review. It follows the same principles of collecting and summarizing evidence, but with a more streamlined process.
The potential of creative methods in enhancing well-being and inclusion
Creative methods supported the integration of immigrant youth as well as the well-being of care home residents and employees. For example, listening to music helped young people process their emotions and supported learning the Finnish language.
In care homes, creative activities improved residents’ moods and sense of community while also supporting caregivers’ resilience. In the workplace, background music and creative workshops strengthened participants’ sense of inclusion and reduced stress, particularly during the pandemic.
Five aspects of health and well-being
The review examined the impact of art and culture on health and well-being promotion through five distinct aspects of health and well-being: The social determinants of health and well-being, supporting the development and growth of children and young people, workplace well-being and support for caregiving, holistic well-being and prevention, as well as health- and well-being-promoting lifestyles.
The art forms included in the study ranged from music, visual arts, and dance to performing arts, literature, and creative methods.
Art therapies were excluded from the review, which focused specifically on promoting health and well-being before the onset of illnesses.
The intrinsic and educational value of art and culture
The researchers emphasize that cultural well-being activities are not medical treatments, although they can be applied in care and health care settings.
“The concept of well-being encompasses not only health but also various aspects of quality of life that contribute to overall wellness.”
According to them, alongside evaluating the impact of art and culture, greater emphasis should be placed on studying the meanings they create.
“In addition to productivity and efficiency, the intrinsic and educational value of art and culture must be considered, including the meanings and narratives they generate.”
The researchers remind us that we live in a time of multiple crises, where an aging and increasingly diverse population faces diminishing societal and ecological resources. Therefore, promoting health and well-being is timely across various sectors.
“The significance of preventive and proactive efforts is also growing in health care, where the focus should shift from treating illnesses to preventing them,” the researchers write.
More information:
Taide ja kulttuuri edistävät terveyttä ja hyvinvointia. www.laakarilehti.fi/tieteessa/ … tta-ja-hyvinvointia/
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Art and culture linked to improved health and well-being (2024, December 2)
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Postdoctoral researcher Taru-Anneli Koivisto and visiting researcher Taru Tähti from the University of the Arts Helsinki explored the potential of art and cultural activities to enhance the health and well-being of various age and population groups. The peer-reviewed article published in Lääkärilehti, Finnish Medical Journal, concludes that art and cultural activities promote physical and cognitive health and well-being across all age groups included in the review study. Many of the publications included in the review reported or touched on the impact or support of art and cultural activities on health-promoting behaviors, such as stress management and the improvement of social relationships. Koivisto and Tähti reviewed the latest peer-reviewed data from 2014 to 2024, selecting 20 publications from a total of 9,804 references. Research shows that engagement in art and cultural activities positively impacts well-being across all age groups, from newborns to the elderly. Significant results were achieved, particularly in the areas of social factors, holistic well-being, and prevention. Music, dance, and visual arts strengthened participants’ social networks, fostered a sense of belonging, and improved stress management. Cultural prescription programs enriched traditional health care models and improved, for instance, mental well-being, especially among those who engaged in artistic activities for over 100 hours per year. Koivisto and Tähti chose the rapid review method due to the broad scope of the research area and the challenges related to its definition and practical delineation. A rapid review is an accelerated version of a systematic literature review. It follows the same principles of collecting and summarizing evidence, but with a more streamlined process. Creative methods supported the integration of immigrant youth as well as the well-being of care home residents and employees. For example, listening to music helped young people process their emotions and supported learning the Finnish language. In care homes, creative activities improved residents’ moods and sense of community while also supporting caregivers’ resilience. In the workplace, background music and creative workshops strengthened participants’ sense of inclusion and reduced stress, particularly during the pandemic. The review examined the impact of art and culture on health and well-being promotion through five distinct aspects of health and well-being: The social determinants of health and well-being, supporting the development and growth of children and young people, workplace well-being and support for caregiving, holistic well-being and prevention, as well as health- and well-being-promoting lifestyles. The art forms included in the study ranged from music, visual arts, and dance to performing arts, literature, and creative methods. Art therapies were excluded from the review, which focused specifically on promoting health and well-being before the onset of illnesses. The researchers emphasize that cultural well-being activities are not medical treatments, although they can be applied in care and health care settings. “The concept of well-being encompasses not only health but also various aspects of quality of life that contribute to overall wellness.” According to them, alongside evaluating the impact of art and culture, greater emphasis should be placed on studying the meanings they create. “In addition to productivity and efficiency, the intrinsic and educational value of art and culture must be considered, including the meanings and narratives they generate.” The researchers remind us that we live in a time of multiple crises, where an aging and increasingly diverse population faces diminishing societal and ecological resources. Therefore, promoting health and well-being is timely across various sectors. “The significance of preventive and proactive efforts is also growing in health care, where the focus should shift from treating illnesses to preventing them,” the researchers write. More information: Provided by Citation: This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
Art and culture as drivers of well-being
The potential of creative methods in enhancing well-being and inclusion
Five aspects of health and well-being
The intrinsic and educational value of art and culture
Taide ja kulttuuri edistävät terveyttä ja hyvinvointia. www.laakarilehti.fi/tieteessa/ … tta-ja-hyvinvointia/
University of the Arts Helsinki
Art and culture linked to improved health and well-being (2024, December 2)
retrieved 2 December 2024
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-art-culture-linked-health.html
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
