Cultural activity participation and associations with self-perceived health, life-satisfaction and mental health: the Young HUNT Study, Norway

Abstract

BackgroundLeisure time activities and culture participation may have health effects and be important in pulic health promotion. More knowledge on how cultural activity participation may influence self-perceived health, life-satisfaction, self-esteem and mental health is needed.MethodsThis article use data from the general population-based Norwegian HUNT Study, using the cross-sectional Young-HUNT3 (2006–08) Survey including 8200 adolescents. Data on cultural activity participation, self-perceived health, life-satisfaction, self-esteem, anxiety and depression were collected by self-reported questionnaires.ResultsBoth attending meetings or training in an organisation or club, and attending sports events were positively associated with each of the health parameters good self-percieved health, good life-satisfaction, good self-esteem, and low anxiety and depression symptoms. We found differences according to gender and age (13–15 years versus 16–19 years old) for several culture activities, where girls aged 16–19 years seemed to benefit most from being culturally active. The extent of participation seemed to matter. Those who had frequent participation in cultural activities reported better health outcomes compared to inactive adolecents.ConclusionsThe results from this study indicate that participation in cultural activities may be positively associated with health, life-satisfaction and self-esteem in adolescents and thus important in public health promotion. Possible sex and age differences should be taken into account.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1873-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Self-perception of health and social determinants in high school adolescents

“…Regarding cultural aspects, although the data indicated association with significance only for religious practice and attendance at museums, a Norwegian study of 8,085 adolescents aged 13 to 19 indicated that participation in other cultural activities may be positively associated with self-perception of health, satisfaction with life and self-esteem in adolescents 24 . It is worth considering that although there is little research dedicated to understand the cultural aspects in adolescent health, it is necessary to expand this analysis, since it may constitute an important axis in the discussion of opportunities and self-concept in this life cycle.…”

Forekomst, variasjon og kjønnsforskjeller av depressive symptomer blant barn og unge som deltar i ulike fritidsaktiviteter, en tverrsnittstudie

“…Selv om en i en tverrsnitts studie ikke kan uttale seg om årsak og virkning kan resultatene likevel støtte opp under resultatene som rapporteres fra studien til (Hansen et al, 2015), hvor de undersøkte sammenheng mellom deltakelse i kulturell aktivitet og angst og depresjon blant barn og unge i alderen 13-19 år, hvor det ikke ble rapportert noen signifikant positiv sammenheng mellom deltakelse i kulturell aktivitet og lave skåre på angst og depresjon. I studien til Hansen et al (2015) ble kulturopplevelser som kinobesøk, organisert trening, og deltakelse i utøvende kulturelle aktiviteter definert som kulturell aktivitet. Det at Hansen og kollegaer har definert organisert trening (idrett) inn i kulturell aktivitet, kan gjøre det utfordrende å sammenligne resultatene når vi i vår studie skiller idrettsdeltakelse fra kulturell deltakelse.…”

Musikalische Inaktivität – ein Risikofaktor? Vorstellung eines kurzen Fragebogens zur Erfassung der musikalischen Aktivität (MusA)

“…In einer Studie konnte bei älteren Personen ( > 75 Jahre) gezeigt werden, dass regelmäßige Freizeitaktivitäten, darunter insbesondere das Spielen eines Instrumentes, mit einem geringeren Risiko für Demenzerkrankungen assoziiert waren [15]. Auch bei Jugendlichen wurden positive Zusammenhänge zwischen der Teilnahme an kulturellen Aktivitäten und Gesundheit, Lebenszufriedenheit sowie Selbstachtung beobachtet [16].…”