Cultural Participation and Subjective Well-Being of Indigenous in Latin America

Abstract

In general populations, to several scholars, cultural participation (i.e., participation in cultural and artistic activities) contributes to subjective well-being. Nevertheless, although the mentioned association in Indigenous has been suggested to be related to health, general well-being, and cultural identity, it has been usually left aside in research. Therefore, this manuscript aims to explore the connection between cultural participation and subjective well-being of Indigenous individuals in the context of Latin America. Using the 2013 Latinobarometer dataset (n = 3337), an ordinal regression analysis was run. Results suggest that, reading books, reading news, attending theater, and visiting heritage places show a positive association with life satisfaction (a dimension of subjective well-being); while attending concerts and participating in community celebrations do not report one. These outcomes suggest that participation in cultural and artistic activities can be related to individual and community well-being of Indigenous, and, in consequence, to subjective well-being. Besides, they indicate the need for adequate cultural policies to fulfill the achievement of participation and engagement in cultural life, as well as the review of the activities that potentially bring access to the cultural rights of Indigenous populations.