A co-produced online cultural experience compared to a typical museum website for mental health in people aged 16–24: A proof-of-principle randomised controlled trial

Abstract

The mental health of young people (YP) is a major public health concern that has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst engaging with culture and the arts may have mental health benefits there is a dearth of experimental research regarding the impact of online arts and culture on depression and anxiety in YP. In particular online interventions, which may improve accessibility. Objective: We aimed to compare a co-produced online intervention encompassing the diverse human stories behind art and artefacts, named Ways of Being (WoB), with a typical museum website, the Ashmolean (Ash) on negative affect (NA), positive affect (PA) and psychological distress (K10). Methods: In this parallel group RCT, 463 YP aged 16-24 were randomly assigned, 231 to WoB and 232 to Ash. Results: Over the intervention phase (an aggregate score including all post-allocation timepoints to day-five) a group difference was apparent in favour of WoB for NA (WoB-Ash n=448, NA -0.158, p=0.010) but no differences were detected for PA or K10 and differences were not detected at week six. Group differences in NA in favour of WoB were detected in specific subgroups, e.g. ethnic minorities and males. Across participants (from both groups) mean K10 and NA improved between baseline and six weeks despite increased COVID-19 restrictions. Trial recruitment was rapid, retention high and feedback positive with broad geographical, occupational and ethnic diversity. Conclusions: Online engagement with arts and culture has the potential to impact on mental health in a measurable way in YP with high unmet mental health needs.

Co-design of ‘Ways of Being’, a web-based experience to optimise online arts and culture for mental health in young people

“…36 The Ways of Being intervention was subsequently tested and shown to have effectiveness compared with a highquality museum website (the Ashmolean Museum) in an RCT. 33 However, there is a lack of evidence base for the benefits of co-produced health interventions more generally. Most co-produced interventions are not scientifically evaluated nor compared with a non-co-produced control.…”

“…32 The evaluation included qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and is described in more detail elsewhere. 33…”

Psychological Anxiety Intervention for Young Audiences: Effectiveness Evaluation of Art Museums

“…Young people's mental health, with about 75% of all mental health problems first occurring before the age of 25, is one of the major public health issues worldwide, and young people are often reluctant to seek psychological help from others [1]. The problem has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic as young people have experienced higher levels of psychological anxiety and depression due to COVID-19 restrictions [2].…”

“…Contemporary museums are gradually transitioning into social agents that prioritize well-being as they pursue relevance in the 21st century. With the prevalence of psychological anxiety among youth audiences, which has been exacerbated since the outbreak of COVID-19, many museums are taking the lead in offering long-term, therapeutic experiences, and comprehensive mental health support [1]. In a world marked by increasing turbulence, complexity, and instability, compounded by insecurity, uncertainty, and unpredictable responses to the unknown, the issue of psychological anxiety among young people has grown considerably more severe.…”

Once upon a pandemic

“…Participatory arts programmes with social as well as creative outcomes were referenced as a potential ingredient in mental health recovery and resilience amongst young people (Easwaran et al, 2021;Syed Sheriff et al, 2022;see Figure 6.1). As public health measures to control the spread of the pandemic locked down normal social intercourse, research began to show an increase in mental distress (including depression and anxiety), with an acute impact on the young adult age group.…”