The Arts
Much
of the research on the arts and wellbeing is concerned with the benefits of
participating in the arts – i.e. with activities such as the following:
But benefits can also be derived from less active forms of participation, such as the following:
For further information on the mental and physical benefits of both participatory and non-participatory arts, please see the following:
Arts and Health South West
London Arts in Health Forum
North Bristol NHS Trust, Fresh Arts, ‘Making the Case for the Arts in Healthcare Settings’
Davies CR, Knuiman M, Wright P, et al. ‘The art of being healthy: a qualitative study to develop a thematic framework for understanding the relationship between health and the arts’, BMJ Open 2014;4:e004790, doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-004790.
Articles from Medical News Today:
Sarah Glynn, ‘Music Benefits Both Mental and Physical Health’
Grace Rattue, ‘Anxiety in Cancer Patients Reduced by Music’
Catharine Paddock, ‘Music Therapy May Alleviate Depression’
- Creative writing
- Book club membership
- Drama
- Painting
- Colouring for grown-ups
- Knitting and needlecrafts
- Jewellery-making and other crafts (e.g. greetings card-making)
- Singing – both solo, and in a choir
- Playing a musical instrument – either alone or in a group
But benefits can also be derived from less active forms of participation, such as the following:
- Reading
- Watching plays, films and television programmes, especially comedy
- Looking at paintings/photographs in a gallery or book
- Listening to music
For further information on the mental and physical benefits of both participatory and non-participatory arts, please see the following:
Arts and Health South West
London Arts in Health Forum
North Bristol NHS Trust, Fresh Arts, ‘Making the Case for the Arts in Healthcare Settings’
Davies CR, Knuiman M, Wright P, et al. ‘The art of being healthy: a qualitative study to develop a thematic framework for understanding the relationship between health and the arts’, BMJ Open 2014;4:e004790, doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-004790.
Articles from Medical News Today:
Sarah Glynn, ‘Music Benefits Both Mental and Physical Health’
Grace Rattue, ‘Anxiety in Cancer Patients Reduced by Music’
Catharine Paddock, ‘Music Therapy May Alleviate Depression’
