Identification with arts‐based groups improves mental wellbeing in adults with chronic mental health conditions

Abstract

People experiencing chronic mental health conditions (CMHC) often report feeling socially marginalised. There is emerging evidence that social and mental wellbeing can be enhanced through participation in arts‐based programmes. In this paper, a social identity theoretical approach was applied to explore how participation in the arts may improve mental health in a longitudinal study. A one‐year prospective study of 34 choir members and 25 creative writing group members (Mage = 46, 51% female) with CMHC, involved three assessments of participants’ group identification and mental wellbeing, measured by the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. The programmes were community‐based and facilitated by arts professionals. Multilevel modelling analyses demonstrated that participants’ mental wellbeing significantly improved over time. Greater identification with their arts‐based group (ABG) was significantly related to an increased rate of improvement in mental wellbeing. The trajectory of improvement in mental wellbeing did not differ between participants partaking in the choir or creative writing group. This study demonstrates that participation in ABGs can be effective in improving mental wellbeing in adults with chronic mental health problems, particularly for those who strongly identify with the group. This study supports ABG participation as an accessible component of mental health services.

Social Factors Boost Well‐Being Behind Bars: The Importance of Individual and Group Ties for Prisoner Well‐Being

“…What is lacking in ongoing practitioners’ agendas, however, is a focus on helping prisoners to build positive group memberships that transcend prison walls; that they can interact with both in and, later, outside of prison, and that go beyond maintaining only family ties. Examples include groups that can provide prisoners with positive social identities around a particular skill or strength (see Williams, Dingle, Jetten, & Rowan, ), such as the Finding Rhythms group (a music‐based group; see Kyprianides & Easterbrook, in press), or the KeepOut group (a crime diversion scheme for young people delivered by a group of prisoners). This will help this population maintain continuity, which is important for successful community reintegration.…”

Dingle et al_Agenda for Best Practice Research in Group Singing Health and Wellbeing_Music & Science in press

“…Although it is recognised that group singing, because of its propensity to bond people (Pearce et al, 2016), may be an effective means of encouraging identification. Consistent with this theory, Williams and colleagues (2018) reported that adults with chronic mental health conditions who joined a choir reported similar benefits to those who joined a creative writing group; and these outcomes were related to the extent that participants identified with their arts based group (Williams, Dingle, Jetten, & Rowan, 2018).…”

Arts-based groups in mental health recovery

“…However, the potential of group memberships to meet psychological needs depends on how meaningful the group is to the individual. Previous research has found that when people have attended arts-based groups but have not felt meaningfully connected to the group, they gained fewer benefits to their mental wellbeing than people who strongly identified with the group Pearce et al, 2016;Williams, Dingle, Jetten & Rowan, 2018).…”

“…A similar study was conducted in Australia by Williams, Dingle, Jetten, and Rowan (2018) with a sample of 35 participants with chronic mental health conditions in a community choir run by a singing instructor. Their study found a moderate increase in mental wellbeing during the first year of taking part in the choir (d = 0.52).…”

“…Nevertheless, these findings can be expanded on in future research. In particular, previous research has indicated that identifying with arts-based groups is necessary to gain the benefits of participating in the arts for mental wellbeing (Williams, Dingle, Jetten, & Rowan, 2018). These findings could be expanded on by quantitatively exploring whether psychological needs (belonging, self-efficacy, purpose, and positive emotions) are met through identifying with arts-based groups in mental health settings.…”