The role of participatory arts in addressing the loneliness and social isolation of older people: A conceptual review of the literature

Dadswell, Anna; Wilson, Ceri; Bungay, Hilary; Munn‐Giddings, Carol

doi:10.1386/jaac.9.2.109_1

Cited by 21 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…Our findings show that over 80% of the respondents reported that their engagement in the arts makes them feel socially connected at least ‘a little’. This finding is expected given the previously cited evidence that the arts can support social connections, although the evidence base to date has been most extensive in research with older adults [ 17 – 20 ]. This study extends the evidence base through a wider sample, based on key demographics of the adult UK population and representing a much wider range of adult age groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…Review articles, while pointing out limitations in the evidence base such as inconsistency in measurement tools and reporting of results [ 16 ], suggest that engagement in the arts can particularly support older adults. Dadswell and colleagues, for example, report a conceptual review indicating that participatory arts can strengthen and build relationships through social interaction, tackle inconsistences between expected and real relationships through enhancing self-worth and feelings of belonging, and allow older adults to contribute inclusively to their community [ 17 ]. Similarly, a review of forty-four studies indicated that participatory arts can promote reciprocal relationships among older adults, care givers, and the wider community [ 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Arts engagement supports social connectedness in adulthood: findings from the HEartS Survey

et al. 2021

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Background Loneliness is a public health challenge, associated with premature mortality and poorer health outcomes. Social connections can mitigate against loneliness, and there is evidence that the arts can support social connectedness. However, existing research on the arts and social connectedness is limited by focus on particular age groups and arts activities, as well as a reliance on typically small-scale studies. Methods This study reports survey data from 5892 adults in the United Kingdom, closely matched to the national profile in terms of sociodemographic and economic characteristics. It investigates the extent to which arts engagement is perceived to be linked with feelings of social connectedness, which forms of arts engagement are reported as most connecting, and how. Data were collected via the HEartS Survey, a newly designed tool to capture arts engagement in the United Kingdom and its associations with social and mental health outcomes. Demographic and quantitative data, pertaining to the extent to which arts engagement is perceived to be linked with social connectedness, were analysed descriptively. Qualitative data pertaining to respondents’ perceptions of how arts engagement is linked with feelings of social connectedness were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results Results demonstrated that the majority of respondents (82%) perceive their arts engagement to be linked with feelings of social connectedness at least some of the time. The forms of arts engagement most linked with feelings of social connectedness were attending a live music performance, watching a live theatre performance, and watching a film or drama at the cinema or other venue. Four overarching themes characterise how arts engagement is perceived to facilitate feelings of social connectedness: social opportunities, sharing, commonality and belonging, and collective understanding. Conclusions The findings suggest that arts engagement can support social connectedness among adults in the UK through multiple pathways, providing large-scale evidence of the important role that the arts can play in supporting social public health.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arts engagement supports social connectedness in adulthood: findings from the HEartS Survey

et al. 2021

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“…1 Loneliness and social isolation are clearly linked, but do not always present together; for example, a person may be isolated due to a small network but protected against loneliness by a few deep and meaningful relationships. 3 The direct consequences of loneliness are both social and emotional, 4 , 5 but loneliness and social isolation can also be detrimental to health, wellbeing and quality of life. 6 A recent literature review found the most prevalent health outcome of loneliness in old age was depression, while for social isolation it was cardiovascular problems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent review of the literature identified that the arts promoted a sense of belonging to an artistic community and contentment with social lives, addressing discrepancies between desired relationships and reality. 3 Arts also facilitated interactions and enhanced social capital, helping to strengthen existing relationships and build new ones. Finally, arts enabled older people of all capacities to engage in meaningful social participation and make a valued contribution to their relationships and communities, indicating the potential of participatory arts to alleviate loneliness and social isolation experienced in care homes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of participatory arts in promoting social relationships for older people within care homes

Dadswell

Bungay

Wilson

et al. 2020

Perspect Public Health

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Aims: Loneliness and social isolation negatively affect wellbeing and quality of life. Despite the proximity of others, older people living in care homes often experience loneliness and social isolation. The impact of participatory arts on wellbeing is widely acknowledged; however, relational impacts have received less attention. This article explores the impact of participatory arts in care homes on the social relationships between older people and older people and care staff. Methods: ‘Creative Journeys’, an initiative led by Essex County Council, provides opportunities for older people living in care homes to participate in arts activities. In this study, three arts organisations (reminiscence arts, seated dance, and orchestral music participation) delivered participatory arts in three homes. Stage 1 of the research comprised mixed-methods case studies in each home. Stage 2 involved an online survey across care homes in Essex to provide a broader perspective, with follow-up interviews in three further homes, and a focus group with the arts organisations. Findings presented here focus on the qualitative data around the impact of participatory arts on the social relationships in care homes between older people and older people and care staff. Results: Participatory arts enhanced social relationships between older people and between older people and care staff in care homes. Through engagement in shared experiences leading to increased communication and interaction, participatory arts facilitated social connectedness between residents, and changed the relationship dynamics between older people and care staff, thus promoting reciprocity. Conclusion: Participatory arts enable older people to express themselves creatively, and make meaningful contributions to their social relationships. Policy makers and those working in the care sector should consider including participatory arts as an integral and necessary component of quality care for older people living in care homes.

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“…This focus is even more apparent in review articles and large-scale epidemiological studies. Indeed, reviews have indicated that participatory arts can strengthen and build relationships [ 51 ] and promote reciprocal relationships among older adults, care givers, and the wider community [ 52 ]. Community-engaged art programs have been seen as promising for addressing loneliness in older adults [ 53 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arts engagement trends in the United Kingdom and their mental and social wellbeing implications: HEartS Survey

et al. 2021

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Evidence on the role of the arts in promoting health and wellbeing has grown over the last two decades. In the United Kingdom, studies using secondary data sources have documented temporal variations in levels of arts engagement in the population, its determinants and its mental wellbeing implications. However, arts engagement is often characterized by prioritizing “high-brow” art forms. In this article, we introduce the HEartS Survey, a tool that aims to increase the balance between inclusivity and brevity of existing arts engagement measures and to focus specifically on the connection between arts engagement and social wellbeing. We explore trends in participatory and receptive engagement with literary, visual, performing, crafts and decorative arts among 5,338 adults in the UK in 2018–2019 using summative engagement scores and cluster analysis. Regression models, adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and social covariates, examine correlations between arts engagement and psychological and social wellbeing measures. Over 97% of respondents reported engagement in one or more arts activities at least once during 2018–2019, with reading and listening to music being the most popular activities. Arts engagement grouped into three distinct clusters: 19.8% constituted “low engagers” whose main source of engagement was occasional reading; 44.4% constituted “receptive consumers” who read and listened to music frequently and engaged with popular receptive arts activities such as cinema, live music, theater, exhibitions, and museums; and 35.8% constituted “omnivores” who frequently engaged in almost all arts activities. In agreement with existing studies, more arts engagement was associated with higher levels of wellbeing, social connectedness, and lower odds of intense social loneliness. In contrast, we found a positive association between more arts engagement, depression, and intense emotional loneliness for the most highly engaged omnivores. We conclude that arts engagement in the population forms specific profiles with distinct characteristics and consider implications for mental and social wellbeing.

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The role of participatory arts in addressing the loneliness and social isolation of older people: A conceptual review of the literature

Cited by 21 publications

References 0 publications

Arts engagement supports social connectedness in adulthood: findings from the HEartS Survey

Arts engagement supports social connectedness in adulthood: findings from the HEartS Survey

The impact of participatory arts in promoting social relationships for older people within care homes

Arts engagement trends in the United Kingdom and their mental and social wellbeing implications: HEartS Survey

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