Arts-based Interventions Research Articles

Research Methodologies for Arts-Based Health Interventions

Arts-based health interventions have gained recognition for their contributions to promoting health and well-being. These interventions, spanning visual arts, music, and performance, have evolved into established therapeutic modalities. However, there is limited research that systematically addresses the methodologies employed in studying the effects of these interventions. This paper examines both qualitative and quantitative research methods used to investigate arts-based health interventions, highlighting narrative approaches, thematic analysis, focus groups, and surveys. The paper also discusses challenges in measuring efficacy, balancing scientific rigor with the subjective nature of arts-based practices, and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches. This review underscores the need for robust, ethically grounded research designs that can capture both the nuanced experiences of participants and quantifiable outcomes. Keywords: Arts-based interventions, Health and well-being, Therapeutic modalities, Qualitative research, Quantitative research.

Promoting Lifelong Learning in Arts and Health

This paper examines the intersection of lifelong learning with the arts and health, focusing on how continuous education in these areas’ benefits individuals and society. Lifelong learning in arts and health not only promotes personal development and professional growth but also fosters well-being, emotional resilience, and social connectivity. The arts can be a critical tool in health care, improving mental health outcomes and fostering creativity among practitioners. Despite these benefits, barriers such as funding, time constraints, and lack of resources hinder the integration of arts into health education and practice. These study outlines strategies for overcoming these challenges through innovative pedagogical approaches, digital learning, and policy initiatives. It emphasizes the importance of creating environments that support both formal and informal learning, enabling broader participation in arts-based health interventions. Case studies and best practices illustrate successful models of lifelong learning in arts and health, demonstrating their potential to reduce social exclusion and enhance the quality of care. Keywords: Lifelong learning, arts in health, creativity, well-being, health education, community arts, professional development.

The Role of Arts in Health Program Evaluation

Arts-based interventions are gaining recognition for their potential to enhance health outcomes, reduce stigma, and improve the well-being of individuals and communities. As such programs proliferate across healthcare settings, from hospitals to senior centers, the need for rigorous evaluation frameworks becomes essential to assess their effectiveness. This paper examines the intersection of arts and health programs, examining their contribution to physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It emphasizes the importance of evaluation in validating these interventions, outlines key components of arts program evaluation, and highlights methods for assessing impact, including mixed-method approaches. The aim is to provide a comprehensive guide for evaluating arts in health programs, ensuring their sustained integration into healthcare practices. Keywords: Arts in health, Health program evaluation, Mental health, Community well-being, Mixed-methods evaluation, Arts-based interventions.

Art as a Form of Communication for Trauma Survivors

This study investigates the importance of art as a communicative tool for trauma survivors, offering a form of self-expression and healing when words fail. Art therapy allows trauma survivors to express their emotions and experiences in a nonverbal way, assisting them in processing their suffering, reducing psychological distress, and promoting recovery. By studying various types of traumas and the use of art therapy, this research demonstrates how generating visual and poetic representations of trauma can serve as a bridge to emotional resilience and healing. The study also looks at the therapeutic advantages and success stories of art-based interventions, illustrating how creative expression may alter mental health therapy for trauma survivors. Keywords: Art therapy, Trauma survivors, Non-verbal communication, Emotional healing, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Palliative Arts: Envisioning a New Paradigm in Palliative Care.

A growing body of evidence supports the effectiveness of arts-based interventions in nurturing human connection, healing, and reflection-for patients living with illness, their families, and their health care communities. Thus, we propose that these interventions, what we call the Palliative Arts-just as much as science-should be systematically integrated in clinical education, practice, research, wellness, leadership, and advocacy to impact person-centered outcomes. Our interprofessional team describes a variety of arts-based programming that its authors are leading to highlight the breadth of existing Palliative Arts work and point to future horizons for its integration in health care education and clinical settings. We propose that the Palliative Arts can inform a new paradigm, one with the potential to foster person-centered innovation and meaningful change in the field of palliative care-and health care at large.

Art as a Window to Emotions: A Study on the Impact of Conflict on Children's Drawings

This research investigates how students from two different backgrounds in a conflict-affected area—one group being internally displaced (IDP) and the other residing in permanent homes—express their emotions through art. The study aims to understand the emotional experiences of these students and explore the potential therapeutic benefits of art for children in conflict-affected areas. Two experiments were conducted: in the first, students drew freely without specific instructions; in the second, they were asked to express their emotions through their drawings and provide reasons for their choices. In the first experiment, students mostly used dark and dull colors, suggesting feelings of sadness and anxiety. In the second experiment, IDP students used vibrant colors reflecting resilience, while town students used monochromatic shades likely due to their recent experiences with conflict. Living conditions and recent traumatic events significantly influence the emotional expressions in students' artwork. Art-based interventions can be tailored to address their unique emotional needs.

Exploring the Importance of Cultural Sensitivity in Arts-Based Health Interventions

Arts-based health interventions have emerged as valuable tools for improving community health and well-being by integrating creative practices such as music, visual arts, and performance into healthcare settings. These interventions provide a unique way to address health disparities and engage communities. However, the success of such interventions hinges on cultural sensitivity, as they are implemented in diverse communities with different values, beliefs, and health practices. This paper examines the role of cultural sensitivity in the development and implementation of arts-based health interventions. It emphasizes the need for cultural competence to ensure that these interventions are relevant, respectful, and effective across various cultural contexts. Case studies of successful culturally sensitive arts-based initiatives are examined, highlighting best practices for collaboration with communities and the importance of adapting interventions to local needs. Keywords: Arts-based health interventions, Cultural sensitivity, Community health, Cultural competence, Public health.

Using Vision Boards to Support the Development of Early Student Counselors

ABSTRACT One of the primary functions of clinical supervision is to facilitate counseling skills development. The integrative developmental model (IDM) suggests specific challenges facing masters-level student counselors at each developmental level. For early student counselors, this includes heightened anxiety, perfectionism, and struggles with self-concept and wellness. We propose using vision boards as a supervision tool to address these developmental challenges through creative arts-based interventions. The process of engaging in creative arts-based supervision decreases supervisees’ anxiety and increases self-awareness, perspective-taking abilities, and cognitive complexity, making personal growth more accessible. Vision boards visually represent student counselor growth and development and function as a means to document student counselor progress for evaluation and gatekeeping purposes. A case study is presented to explore the application of the vision board within the framework of the IDM. Finally, implications and limitations are discussed.

Implementing a group singing intervention for postpartum depression within the Italian health service.

In the United Kingdom a singing intervention for Postpartum Depression (PPD) titled "Music and Motherhood" was found to be effective. The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe coordinated a study to assess the feasibility of implementing and adapting the intervention in other countries. In Italy, recent studies have highlighted the need to promote the availability of effective interventions for PPD in primary care. To describe the implementation of "Music and Motherhood" within the Italian primary care services dedicated to pregnancy and postnatal care in three different geographical locations, thus providing an example of strategies for implementing an arts and health intervention in primary care that can improve health and well-being. A 10-week group singing intervention for mothers with PPD was conducted as part of a single arm feasibility study. Data were collected through one-to-one interviews, focus groups and questionnaires from the professionals involved in the implementation and selected participating mothers. A conceptual framework including acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, implementation process, costs and sustainability was adopted for analysis. Number of sessions attended by mothers and implementation outcome measures for acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility, each consisting of four items rated on a 5-point Likert scale were also gathered. The intervention was found to be inclusive of women from different socio-cultural backgrounds and appropriate to the context. The group setting and the use of an arts-based intervention helped to de-medicalise the process of care maximising resources. Singing helped mothers to express their feelings and find strategies to improve interaction with their child. Attention to mothers' needs and the co-presence of the professional singing leader and a health professional were among the key factors. The median number of sessions attended was nine out of 10. In terms of acceptability, almost 90% of the professionals were in complete agreement that they liked and approved the intervention. Our study adds to the evidence that an arts and health intervention proven effective in one culture and linguistic context can be adapted to another. Collaboration among health professionals and artists in the implementation process and adequate funding are instrumental in moving from project to programme level.

‘Excellent for mind,body and spirit’: Participant, facilitator, and community stakeholder experiences of Music and Movement for Health

Background and purposeArts-based interventions are an emerging area of interest in health research for older adults. Music and Movement for Health (MMH) is one such systematically developed interdisciplinary arts-based intervention designed to enhance health and wellbeing of older adults. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore the opinions and experiences of participants, facilitators, and community stakeholders of the MMH intervention. Materials and methodsThis embedded qualitative study was completed as part of a wider evaluation of the MMH intervention. A purposive sample of older adults who had completed MMH (n = 71), facilitators (n = 8) and community stakeholders (n = 4) participated in this study. Data were collected through a combination of focus groups and telephone/virtual interviews. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. ResultsData analysis led to the generation of the overarching theme ‘Positive ageing in place’, which encompassed two themes: (1) ‘Intersection of exercise and arts’ and (2) ‘Fostering a sense of belonging’, and five subthemes. MMH was viewed as a unique arts-based intervention that combined participants' interest in music and dance and had many perceived physical and psychological benefits. Additionally, MMH provided routine and social opportunities to older adults, which were particularly valued in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. ConclusionThe provision of exercise through the arts was enjoyable and, resultantly, desirable to many older adults, with perceived positive physical and psychosocial outcomes. Consequently, the use of arts-based interventions for health promotion and social opportunities among older adults warrants further investigation. Trial registrationISRCTN35313497.

Tackling child criminal exploitation (CCE): an arts-based approach

ABSTRACT This article discusses the efficacy of a freely available arts-based intervention used to tackle Child Criminal Exploitation. A digital, interactive story (Cold Chips & Money) was used in school and youth settings in Hampshire, England with 1,451 young people aged 11–13 in 2021 as part of a project of the same name. Its use has continued since. I was and continue to be the Project Lead and oversaw the development of the story, the supporting resources and the evaluation framework. I worked with a project facilitator and evaluator throughout. Cold Chips & Money was designed to help students understand, recognise and manage external influence and pressure. The story and supporting resources which included a lesson plan and access to the project evaluation lead, enable professionals to have conversations with young people about how they can keep themselves safe, as well as how they can support one another to resist unwanted attention that might lead to exploitation. The resources relate directly to the PSHE Association Key Stage 3 Core Theme Relationships: Social Influence section R42–47. The development and use of the resources was planned to complement multi-agency work on Child Criminal Exploitation and County Lines and had input from multiple professionals. Project evaluation evidenced a significant increase in awareness of county lines, and the issues surrounding it. Teachers stated that the interactive storytelling format was effective at and provided the opportunity to facilitate in-depth dialogue around the cause and effect of the decisions we make.

Evaluating the Impact of Arts Programs on Health Outcomes

This paper examines the role of arts programs in improving health outcomes across psychological, physiological, and social dimensions. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature, theoretical frameworks, and methodologies, we evaluate the diverse ways in which arts engagement positively impacts well-being. While evidence demonstrates that arts-based interventions can enhance mental health, reduce stress, and promote social cohesion, significant variations in findings indicate the need for a more standardized evaluation approach. This review also highlights policy implications, suggesting the integration of arts into public health strategies as a cost-effective, community-centered approach to improving well-being. A critical perspective is maintained throughout, emphasizing both the potential and limitations of arts programs in health promotion. Keywords: Arts in health, Health outcomes, Arts-based interventions, Well-being, Public health.

Exploring the Role of Art in Community Health Initiatives

This review investigates the intersection of art and community health initiatives, focusing on how art can serve as a tool for health promotion, disease prevention, and rehabilitation. It examines the historical and cultural significance of art in health practices, drawing on both active participatory and passive art experiences. By investigating the biopsychosocial model, the paper highlights how art contributes to individual and collective well-being, reducing stress, fostering social cohesion, and improving mental and physical health. Through case studies and evidence-based research, the paper argues that art plays a crucial role in community health strategies, advocating for greater integration of art into public health policy. Recommendations are offered for expanding interdisciplinary collaborations, increasing funding for arts-based health interventions, and exploring digital opportunities for art in healthcare. Keywords: Art in health, community health initiatives, public health, mental well-being, biopsychosocial model.

Rethinking culture: a narrative review on the evolving role of museum and art gallery-based heritage activities and programmes on wellbeing.

The prevalence of chronic mental and physical diseases is increasing globally. In addition, the changing demographics towards an ageing population pose a challenge to healthcare systems, as ageing is associated with a decrease in physical and mental capacity and an increased risk of developing disease. The review aims to explore primary studies that investigated the effect of museum and art gallery-based heritage activities and programmes on the wellbeing of (1) individuals recovering from drug addiction or patients with dementia and (2) younger and older adults. We conducted a search using specific keywords, and inclusion and exclusion criteria, in databases for the period 2013-2023. Following a detailed examination of numerous articles, 15 original studies were included in this review. 15 original studies investigated the effects of museum and art gallery-based heritage activities or programmes on (1) patients with chronic diagnoses associated with mental health and/or physical impairment, such as drug addiction and dementia and (2) the wellbeing of younger and older populations. The interactive environment of museums had positive health outcomes for patients with chronic mental (addiction recovery, dementia) and physical diseases (cancer) as well as hospitalized patients. In addition, it improved the physical and mental wellbeing of younger and older individuals. Museum art-based interventions may be integrated as part of the non-pharmacological management of patients experiencing mental disorders as well as for improving the wellbeing of younger and older populations.

The power of arts-based film interventions to encourage Black blood donors.

Blood services must consider innovative ways to encourage more Black people to donate to enhance the efficacy of treatments. We evaluate how two innovative arts-based approaches (co-designed and locally produced films and a large-scale Marvel Studios'/NHSBT collaboration) can achieve this by generalizing to a wider audience from their target audiences. Four co-designed short community films were produced in the United Kingdom: Comedy, Reciprocity, Donor-Recipient, and Sliding Doors. In Study 1 (N = 44: Black people), these films were evaluated in the target community in which they were produced. In Study 2 (N = 1237: Black = 638, White = 599), the community and Marvel Black Panther/NHSBT films were evaluated in a nontarget general population sample. Evaluations were in terms of campaign behavioral efficacy (e.g., willingness to donate, encourage others to donate) and affect. These analyses were segmented by donor status, age, and gender. Study 1 shows that the community groups rated the films very positively, with over 90% stating that they would be convinced to donate blood. Study 2 shows the results from the community films generalized to the general population, with the Black Panther film also rated positively in the general population. Three community films and the Black Panther film were rated equally positively. There were notable differences across generations and by donor status. The results highlight the power of arts-based approaches (both locally co-produced community films and franchise collaborations) in encouraging donors within their target audiences and, importantly, on the broader population.

Online Art-Based Interventions from Peer Influencers to Reduce Mental Health Stigma: A Randomized-Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT Stigmatizing perceptions of people with mental health conditions continue to frame them as dangerous, weak-willed, flawed, and culpable for their symptoms. Guided by social contact and social role valorization theories, the present study consists of a randomized controlled trial of an asynchronous, online social contact intervention to reduce mental health stigma among members of the public (N = 318). Groups 1–3 viewed intervention posts including art and writing, art-only, and writing-only created by peer influencers self-identifying with mental health conditions on Instagram. Group 4 viewed matched comparison posts that were not about mental health. Results showed that participants in the intervention groups reported significantly higher mental health awareness, general sympathy, and appreciation for people with mental health conditions than those in the comparison group. All groups reported a significant decrease in prejudice. These results have implications for collaborating with peer influencers to develop and implement cost-effective online interventions to reduce mental health stigma.

Effectiveness of a short, intensive, art-based group intervention on attention level in children with autism spectrum disorders: a pre-post experimental study

Background The rate of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is dramatically rising globally, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. There has been little research on the effects of art-based interventions on attention impairments among children with ASD. Objective To examine the effectiveness of a short, intensive, art-based intervention on attention switching and attention to detail in children with moderate-severe ASD. Methods In this pre- and post-experimental study, children previously diagnosed with levels 2 and 3 ASD were invited to join a one-month, art-based course. The art-based intervention was held 3 days/week for 2 hours per day. Results The mean age of subjects was 8.33 (range 5 to 11) years; there were 10 (83.33%) males and 2 (16.67%) females. The total Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ-Child) scores from baseline to one week after completion of the art-based course were not significantly different. In addition, mean social skills scores of attention switching and attention to detail, as well as communication scores were not significantly changed from baseline to after course completion. However, the children had significantly worse median imagination scores after the course compared to baseline scores (18.0 vs. 16.0, respectively) (P=0.0020). Conclusion After a one-month, art-based, group intervention, AQ-Child scores did not change significantly in total score, social skills, attention switching, attention to detail, or communication. The median imagination score worsened after, compared to before, the intervention. However, these results need to be interpreted with caution due to the very small sample size.

Self-care for preservice and in-service art educators: A matter of survival in the profession

This article presents an overview of a case study that uses an arts-based research intervention to support the development of self-care strategies for preservice and in-service art teachers towards improved work-life balance. Three recommendations are provided: (1) the necessity for teachers to individualize practices of self-care; (2) creating communities of care to support the collective design and use of self-care practices and (3) defining boundaries that promote a healthier work-life balance. The author shares reflections on how these recommendations influenced her own pedagogy at the university level, preparing preservice art educators and sustaining the practices of in-service art educators. Assignment prompts, exemplars of self-care artist trading cards and juggling act visualization artmaking activities are presented as well as a discussion on how to model self-care practices for art educators.

Thriving Through the Arts: Pathways to Social Well-Being for Older Women

The arts have enriched human experiences across time and culture. Beyond their intrinsic value, a growing body of evidence suggests that engaging with the arts has numerous benefits for health and well-being. Increasingly, research on older adults suggests that arts-based interventions and engagement with arts-based leisure activities enhance states of well-being (e.g. life satisfaction, positive emotions, belonging) and reduce states of ill-being (e.g. depression, anxiety, loneliness) In this paper, we focus on the potential for the arts to contribute to women thriving in their 80s and 90s. In particular, we aim to bring awareness to the ways in which the arts can play a vital role in cultivating positive states of social well-being (e.g. social connections, social networks, social support, and belonging) and mitigating negative states of social ill-being (e.g. loneliness, social isolation). We first lay the groundwork for the relationship between the arts and health and discuss social well-being as an important facet of overall well-being. We then review research findings from four artistic domains (music, visual art, art and craft, and performing arts) and their associations with social well-being in older adulthood. Finally, we discuss potential applications of art-based interventions to support the social well-being of women in later life.

If Art Were a Drug: Implications for Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic and complex neurodegenerative disorder. Conventional pharmacological or surgical therapies alone are often insufficient at adequately alleviating disability. Moreover, there is an increasing shift toward person-centered care, emphasizing the concept of "living well". In this context, arts-based interventions offer great promise, functioning as platforms for creative expression that could provide novel mechanisms to promote quality of life. Here we present a qualitative review of arts-based interventions for PD, including music, dance, drama, visual arts, and creative writing. For each, we discuss their applications to PD, proposed mechanisms, evidence from prior studies, and upcoming research. We also provide examples of community-based projects. Studies to date have had relatively small sample sizes, but their findings suggest that arts-based interventions have the potential to reduce motor and non-motor symptoms. They may also empower people with PD and thereby address issues of self-esteem, foster personal problem-solving, and augment holistic well-being. However, there is a paucity of research determining optimal dosage and symptom-specific benefits of these therapies. If art were a drug, we would have to perform appropriately powered studies to provide these data before incorporating it into routine patient care. We therefore call for further research with properly designed studies to offer more rigorous and evidence-based support for what we intuitively think is a highly promising approach to support individuals living with PD. Given the possible positive impact on people's lives, arts-based approaches merit further development and, if proven to be effective, systematic inclusion within integrated management plans.