Dataset Information

Differential participation in community cultural activities amongst those with poor mental health: Analyses of the UK Taking Part Survey.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

There is a growing literature on the benefits of arts and cultural engagement for mental health. However, whether poor mental health is a barrier to engaging in cultural activities remains unclear.

Objective

To identify whether there are differential participation rates in community cultural activities amongst those with differing levels of mental health (specifically, feelings of anxiety and happiness) and identify potential explanatory factors.

Method

We analysed data from 7241 participants in the Taking Part survey; a random face-to-face household survey conducted in England (2016-2017). Cultural engagement was measured using a four-factor variable of cultural participation derived from assessing annual attendance at 21 receptive cultural activities. Mental health was measured using two of the Office for National Statistics measures of subjective wellbeing: happiness and anxious feelings. Analyses were adjusted for demographic, socio-economic, geographic and behavioural factors.

Results

There was no difference in participation amongst individuals experiencing high levels of anxious feelings, but individuals experiencing low levels of happiness were less likely to engage in 'popular' cultural activities (e.g., live music events/cinema), 'high art' cultural activities (e.g., opera/ballet), and crafts and literary cultural events (e.g., exhibitions/book fairs). Education and socio-economic status largely explained differences, but for 'high art' and 'popular' activities, differences persisted independent of all explanatory factors tested. There was no difference in participation in global cultural activities (e.g., festivals).

Conclusions

Using behaviour change theory, our findings suggest that lower levels of physical and social opportunity and psychological capability may reduce levels of cultural participation amongst individuals with low levels of happiness, but other physical and perceived barriers still remain to be explored.

SUBMITTER: Fancourt D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7903156 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Differential participation in community cultural activities amongst those with poor mental health: Analyses of the UK Taking Part Survey.

Fancourt Daisy D Baxter Louise L

Social science & medicine (1982) 20200719

<h4>Rationale</h4>There is a growing literature on the benefits of arts and cultural engagement for mental health. However, whether poor mental health is a barrier to engaging in cultural activities remains unclear.<h4>Objective</h4>To identify whether there are differential participation rates in community cultural activities amongst those with differing levels of mental health (specifically, feelings of anxiety and happiness) and identify potential explanatory factors.<h4>Method</h4>We analyse ...[more]

PMID: 32745824

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Dataset Information

Differential participation in community cultural activities amongst those with poor mental health: Analyses of the UK Taking Part Survey.

Rationale

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Differential participation in community cultural activities amongst those with poor mental health: Analyses of the UK Taking Part Survey.

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