Dealing with arts is an important predictor for psychological well-being and health. The implications of the standstill of public cultural life during the lockdown in Germany is studied among 828 producers (36%) or consumers (36%) of art, or subjects claiming both roles (28%), from performative arts, music, and other forms of cultural engagement. Prelockdown frequency of visiting, respectively, acting at cultural events was on average 1 event every 8.4th day in the consumer group, 5.9 days in the producer group, and 6.1 days in the group claiming both roles. Producers reported a loss of 1 active event every 4.8th day, the producer/consumer group each 6.1 days. Receptive events cancelled during the lockdown hit all 3 groups comparably (1 event every 13.7th day). Existential threat or serious mood disorder was reported by less than 10% in all 3 respondent groups; 38% of the consumer group reported no cultural withdrawal and even advantages. Both other groups with active involvement in cultural events faced no negative (or even positive) impact in over 25%. In a multivariate classification tree analysis, most prominently the size of receptive as well as active losses proved influential on successful coping. Neither sociodemographic characteristics, nor living situation or health condition could be shown to exert a direct impact. Precluding people affine to highbrow culture from attending seems to be an independent risk factor at least for well-being. Potentially resulting mental health problems have to be carefully monitored during the ongoing pandemic.
Cultural activities might serve as a buffer to the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Frequencies of participants’ cultural activities in terms of participation in digital cultural offerings or self-initiated cultural activities during the pandemic are examined, and whether prior cultural engagement and valuing of culture have an impact on this participation. It is explored whether both forms of cultural activities are directly connected with psychological well-being, namely, optimism concerning COVID-19, and whether this relationship is mediated by autonomy, relatedness and aesthetic experience. Regression and mediation analysis were calculated (N = 398). Both cultural activities were related to increased aesthetic experience and perceived autonomy, but only participation in digital cultural offerings was connected to increased perceived relatedness. Relatedness, in turn, was connected to increased optimism. The results reflect the protective function of cultural activities on psychological well-being, demonstrating the importance of cultural life in times of adversity.
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