Diogo Fagundes
By Stephen Beech
Viewing works of art can boost well-being by giving meaning to life, suggests a new study.
And the benefit can be gained in a hospital setting as well as an art gallery, say scientists.
Works which formed part of the review included The Scream by Edvard Munch, The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh and other pieces of both modern and contemporary art.
The research team, including Irish scientists, called on healthcare providers and policymakers to integrate art into mental health strategies as a low-cost and easily accessible resource.
Previous studies have suggested that viewing art might influence mood or stress.
The new study examined decades of research, providing for the first time a "clear and comprehensive" overview of when, where and why art viewing is used to promote well-being.
Redd Francisco
The review of 38 previously published studies covering a total of 6,805 participants was conducted by a team of psychologists from Trinity College Dublin, the University of Vienna in Austria, and Humboldt University of Berlin in Germany
The findings, published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, showed that viewing art can improve "eudemonic well-being" - well-being associated with meaning in life and personal growth.
The benefits were observed in several locations - including museums and galleries as well as clinics and hospital settings and also through the medium of virtual reality.
A variety of art types - including figurative, abstract, modern and contemporary paintings, photography, sculpture and installations - were found to boost well-being.
Vincent Tantardini
Study lead author MacKenzie Trupp, of the University of Vienna, said: “People often think of art as a luxury, but our research suggests that viewing art - whether as a hobby or as a targeted health intervention - can meaningfully support well-being.
“By reframing art as a low-cost, accessible wellbeing resource, this research opens up exciting possibilities for integrating art into everyday environments and public health strategies.”
Dr. Claire Howlin, Assistant Professor in the School of Psychology at Trinity, added: “While the mental health benefits of creating art have been widely explored, the impact of viewing art has been under-researched and undervalued.
"Yet visual art is present and accessible in everyday spaces - museums, galleries, hospitals, and at home.
Emre
"Understanding its effects can unlock new avenues for promoting wellbeing through everyday encounters with art."
She added: “Since 2019 the World Health Organization has recommended that creative approaches are used alongside routine clinical care.
"Art can satisfy people’s need to search for meaning in life, build self-esteem, and develop positive identities, which are important factors for coping with the chaos of life.
"Departments of health and arts councils across Europe are looking for high-quality evidence to identify which types of arts can be used for each type of medical outcome.
"This review will help to plan larger-scale studies in the future.”
