Visual art and mental health: a systematic review of the subjective wellbeing outcomes of engaging with visual arts for adults ("working-age", 15-64 years) with diagnosed mental health conditions

Authors:
TOMLINSON Alan, et al
Publisher:
What Works Centre for Wellbeing
Publication year:
2018
Pagination:
66
Place of publication:
London

This systematic review examines the subjective wellbeing outcomes for adults with mental health conditions taking part in visual arts. It also examines the processes that have an impact on subjective wellbeing. For the review, searches were conducted on ten electronic databases for research and grey literature. The review is based on the findings of eight research articles and six evaluation reports from UK-based visual arts programmes identified as relevant to the scope of the review. The arts practices featured in the studies included painting, drawing, art appreciation, and more general creative and craft activities. A total of 163 participants from across the four countries of Australia, Sweden, the UK, and the USA were involved in the studies. The review found limited high-quality evidence, though case studies from the UK provided important and consistent findings, corroborated by grey literature on interventions and projects. The evidence identified found that engagement in the visual arts for adults with mental health conditions can reduce reported levels of depression and anxiety; increase self-respect, self-worth and self-esteem; encourage re-engagement with the wider community. It also supports participants a potential renegotiation of identity through practice-based forms of making or doing. Ensure the provision of secure safe-space and non-stigmatising settings for interventions were identified as important factors in implementing interventions. Negative impacts of engaging with arts interventions included stress and pressure felt to complete activities and concerns about the end of an intervention. (Edited publisher abstract)

Subject terms:
arts, mental health problems, adults, systematic reviews, wellbeing, intervention, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, outcomes;
Content type:
systematic review
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