BACKGROUND:End-of-life decision-making is often avoided due to societal taboos. This study aimed to foster reflection on mortality through the Threads of Time interactive installation, using the theme of time to engage participants in considering end-of-life issues. METHODS:The art installation was presented at two public events. Attendees anonymously responded to the prompt "What is time at the end-of-life?" by writing on paper tags. A total of 221 tags (63 from the first event, 158 from the second) were collected. Responses were analyzed using inductive qualitative coding to identify key themes. RESULTS:Four primary themes emerged: Philosophical Reflections on Death and Time, Embracing Purposeful Time, Self-Affirmation and Personal Reflections, and Grief. Themes were consistent across both events, though age-related differences in temporal focus were observed. CONCLUSIONS:The Threads of Time installation stimulated public reflection on end-of-life topics, highlighting its potential as a tool to support dialogue and awareness in supportive care contexts.
BACKGROUND:Mental disorders remain a global health challenge, and conventional treatments often fall short. Art therapy (AT) shows promise as a complementary approach, yet evidence beyond depression and anxiety, such as loneliness, well-being, and cognition, remains limited. OBJECTIVE:This updated systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the associations between AT and five outcomes: loneliness, psychological well-being, depression, anxiety, and cognitive function. METHODS:Following PRISMA guidelines, five major databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, and Medline) were searched for randomized controlled and quasi-experimental studies published from 2010 to 2024. Eligible studies assessed AT interventions for mental health outcomes. Data were pooled to estimate mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS:Twenty-nine studies (11 RCTs and 18 quasi-experimental studies) involving 2,077 participants aged 13-90 years were included. AT was associated with improvements in psychological well-being (MD = 5.33), depression (MD = -3.67), anxiety (MD = -4.96), and cognitive function (MD = 1.50; all p < 0.001). Loneliness demonstrated a non-significant but potentially favorable trend (MD = -3.97, p = 0.06), particularly in socially embedded formats. CONCLUSIONS:AT demonstrates potential relevance as a complementary intervention within mental health care, particularly among aging populations experiencing increasing psychological and cognitive health challenges.
BACKGRAOUND:People after stroke lose accurate movement partly due to weakness, but this is compounded by poor sensory feedback. Furthermore, motivation and engagement can impact participation in rehabilitation. To address these barriers to recovery, a novel theatrical effects program called Proximity, which provided augmented visual feedback, was set up in a stroke inpatient rehabilitation ward with a cross-disciplinary team of dancers, designers and clinicians. The overall aim of the study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility and acceptability of the program, as well as to explore potential benefits. METHODS:This exploratory feasibility study included 12 stroke and brain injury survivors and employed a mixed-methods, participatory action approach - collecting feasibility and acceptability data alongside semi-structured interviews, using an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Five different effects were adapted for Proximity: Clinical, comprising real-time screen displays with special effects to augment the life-size video images of the participants as they moved in front of the camera. RESULTS:Eleven of the 12 participants reported benefits, and this was supported by the observing clinicians. The theatre-based set-up was intensive and required considerable space. The effects enabled participants, firstly, to see for themselves what they were or were not doing in their postures and movements, and secondly, to immediately self-generate and evaluate changes in performance. In turn, this appeared to enhance agency, curiosity and enjoyment. This change in atmosphere - from remedial to creative exploration - was an unexpected but welcome experience for the cross-disciplinary team and reflects contemporary thinking in the arts/health nexus. THE PROXIMITY:The clinical arts-in-health program warrants further investigation using simplified equipment, under a combination of arts‑in‑health and clinical trial conditions.
BACKGROUND:Broadway's extraordinary commercial success rests on the shoulders of elite performers whose psychological well-being directly contributes to the industry's artistic excellence and economic sustainability. However, the lived experiences of professional musical theatre performers remain underexplored in scholarly literature. Existing research has emphasized individual coping strategies, with less focus on the conditions that support sustained well-being in high-stakes performance contexts. This exploratory single-case study investigated how a seasoned female Broadway performer sustains her well-being throughout her career. METHODS:Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was combined with poetic inquiry to interpret and communicate the data, vividly portraying the participant's lived experience. Four found poems were crafted from interview transcripts, using Ryff's eudaimonic model of psychological well-being as a post-analytic lens. FINDINGS:The findings reveal that the performer's psychological well-being was not primarily sustained by conventional strategies such as detachment, rest, or individualized self-care. Rather, her well-being was supported through autonomy, artistic integrity, meaningful connection, and purpose, and threatened when workplace environments withheld recognition, restricted artistic agency, or limited opportunities for honest feedback and collaboration. CONCLUSIONS:Viewed through the lens of Ryff's eudaimonic model of psychological well-being, the findings suggest that this performer's well-being was shaped more by ethical, relational, and structural workplace factors than by individual coping strategies alone. The insights have implications for educators, directors, and producers, emphasizing the need for systemic, autonomy-supportive practices that sustain artistic excellence and support long-term participation in elite performance industries.
BACKGROUND:This study examines how the relationship between arts and health is constructed and represented in key policy documents from leading international public health institutions, moving beyond description to critically investigate the ideological assumptions and consequences of dominant framing strategies. METHODS:A qualitative frame analysis was conducted using a purposive sample of ten policy documents, reports, and white papers (2019-2024) from the World Health Organization, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Data were systematically coded using NVivo to identify and analyze recurrent framing patterns. RESULTS:Three primary frames were identified: the Instrumental-Economic Frame, the Clinical-Evidence Frame, and the Social-Justice Frame. The Instrumental-Economic Frame, which positions the arts as a cost-effective tool for public health outcomes, was overwhelmingly dominant. Contrasts between the WHO's health-promotion focus and the UK's clinical orientation reveal divergent policy pathways. Dominant frames risk reducing the arts to utilitarian functions, obscuring their intrinsic and socio-critical value. CONCLUSIONS:The findings highlight the implications of these frames for resource allocation, practice, and the future trajectory of the arts and health field. A more nuanced and balanced discursive approach is advocated to preserve the transformative potential of the arts in health.
BACKGROUND:Depression is highly prevalent among college students. Arts-based interventions represent a promising avenue to improve college student mental health. METHOD:We examined mental health and potential mechanistic effects of cognitive flexibility and creative idea-generation in 28 college students with depression symptoms before, after, and six months after completing Imagination Studio - a novel, arts-based intervention. RESULTS:Immediately post-intervention, significant changes included: (1) reductions in depression and anxiety; (2) increases in well-being; (3) improvements in creative performance and cognitive flexibility. Improvements in all measures except for creative performance were maintained six months later. Changes in mental health were not generally associated with cognitive changes. CONCLUSIONS:Results suggest that an arts-based intervention can improve mental health in college students, while the mechanistic roles of creative ideation and cognitive flexibility remain unclear. Larger samples and randomized control designs are necessary to further evaluate mechanisms behind arts-based interventions for college students.
BACKGROUND:Alzheimer's disease poses not only clinical but also profound emotional and relational challenges, requiring healthcare professionals to develop empathetic and communicative competences alongside technical skills. In vocational healthcare education, arts-based approaches may contribute to a more humanised understanding of the disease. This study explores the potential of photographic artistic creation as a tool for raising awareness and fostering reflective learning about Alzheimer's disease during the initial training of auxiliary nursing care professionals. METHODS:A qualitative collective case study was conducted using an arts-informed research approach. Participants were 30 students enrolled in an Intermediate Vocational Training Programme in Auxiliary Nursing Care in southern Spain. Students engaged in a guided creative process involving photographic artworks reflecting different aspects of Alzheimer's disease. Data sources included the photographs, written reflective reports, participant observation, and an open-ended questionnaire. Visual and thematic analyses were undertaken. RESULTS:The photographic artworks revealed that students were able to visually represent key cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions of Alzheimer's disease, including memory loss, disorientation, dependence, and affective suffering. The images also demonstrated sensitivity towards the lived experience of people with the disease. Most participants reported a positive perception of photography and art as resources for enhancing communication and empathy with patients. CONCLUSIONS:The findings highlight the pedagogical and humanising value of photography within vocational healthcare education. Photographic artistic creation emerges as an effective reflective tool for developing professional competences related to empathy, communication, and holistic care in future auxiliary nursing care professionals working with people with Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND:Whilst arts-based approaches are used across healthcare, an arts and health approach to miscarriage is unique in the context of mainstream emotional care provision. This pilot study was set up to explore whether performative rituals could be used as a strategy to support women and health professionals in the aftermath of miscarriage to fill an existing gap in provision. METHODS:A diverse sample of 12 women who had experienced one or recurrent miscarriages were selected from 100 women recruited via our project partners, Miscarriage Association and HOPE Support Services. A participatory workshop utilizing arts-based approaches was delivered, and a blog of 19 artists' work was presented. Interviews with 9 of the women and focus groups with 6 health professionals were undertaken to discuss the different ways that experiences of loss can be visualized and acknowledged and to understand the potential benefits of these artistic strategies of care. RESULTS:Health professionals recognized an urgent need for more holistic trauma-informed care and the value of a resource that acknowledged miscarriage. Thematic analysis revealed four key themes: the value of non-judgmental support and connectedness; creatively feeling how one wants to feel; the need for support for marginalized experiences and that acknowledging miscarriage helps women's mental health. CONCLUSIONS:Performative ritualized interventions offer potential by helping women to validate, acknowledge and move forward from miscarriage whilst also supporting existing NHS service provision in line with women's narratives of need.
BACKGROUND:Sing&Grow Australia is an evidence-based, federally funded music therapy program that caters to children from birth to 5 years of age and their families across Australia. In the current study, the Sing&Grow program was delivered to families affected by sexual abuse and domestic violence, with a focus on improving parents' capacity to develop secure relationships with their young children. The lifelong effects of trauma, including developmental delays, can prevail if not addressed early in children's lives. METHODS:Eight parents participated with their children in the Sing&Grow program. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews and analysed using narrative analysis. This approach sought to further understand how involvement in the Sing&Grow program improved parents'/caregivers' self-efficacy to support their child's development using music, responsive parenting skills and subjective wellbeing. RESULTS:The findings from the study highlighted the benefits of participation in the Sing&Grow program for parents, including increased social connectedness, responsiveness, self-efficacy and knowledge to use music as a parenting tool. Importantly, the narratives illuminated how these changes were experienced and understood by the parents within the context of trauma. CONCLUSION:This study contributes new qualitative knowledge by offering an in-depth narrative account of how trauma-aware, music-based early intervention is experienced by parents and caregivers affected by sexual abuse and domestic violence. Sing&Grow offers parents and caregivers opportunities to integrate positive social and communication skills into parenting and children's daily routines.
BACKGROUND:Arts therapies are increasingly recognized for their effectiveness in mental health care, as digital technologies rapidly transform service delivery and accessibility. However, competencies required for arts therapists to implement digital mental healthcare remain under-researched. This study aims to identify and map these competencies and align them with relevant digital domains and clusters. METHODS:A scoping review following PRISMA-ScR and Arksey and O'Malley's five-step framework used systematic searches in PubMed, Scopus, and ProQuest to comprehensively map relevant studies. RESULTS:This scoping review identified 49 unique digital competencies for arts therapists in adult mental health care, systematically organized into 12 domains across three clusters: Digital Foundations, Digital Clinical Practice, and Digital Engagement & Management. The most frequently represented domains were Patient-centred applications and education, Remote care, and Clinical care, with competencies such as digital patient engagement, remote patient monitoring, and digital therapeutic systems most often cited. CONCLUSIONS:This scoping review establishes a foundational competency framework for arts therapists in digital mental healthcare, guiding practice standardization, education, and future research.
BACKGROUND:The transition to motherhood is a significant life event affecting the wellbeing of mother and infant. Using material culture as a methodological approach to explore women's experiences of this life event may reduce barriers to research engagement that some marginalised groups experience and support a more inclusive understanding of women's experiences. The aim of this review was to investigate how, and in what ways, existing research has used material culture to explore the transition to motherhood. METHOD:Eight databases were searched, MIDIRS, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SocINDEX, Humanities International, Arts & Humanities Database, Sociology Database, and Web of Science. Following screening, six studies met the inclusion criteria. A further study was identified via citation searches and one from expert recommendation. Inclusion criteria were studies which used material culture to explore women's experiences of the transition to motherhood. No methodological, disciplinary, geographical, linguistic, or temporal limitations were imposed, peer-reviewed and grey literature was included. Data were extracted and qualitative descriptive content analysis undertaken. RESULTS:Studies used material culture to explore a range of women's experiences relating to the transition to motherhood. Underlying these studies were assumptions about the role and importance of material culture intae construction of motherhood in the global north and the value of using material culture as an inclusive way of exploring women's experiences. CONCLUSION:Whilst methodological approaches differed in the studies, this review suggests using material culture in research can provide a valuable and inclusive way to understanding women's lived experiences of the transition to motherhood.
BACKGROUND:Dance is increasingly recognized as a resource for promoting health and well-being. However, research has historically prioritized structured interventions, leaving creative-based dance, emphasizing participant agency and movement generation, comparatively underexplored. This narrative review addresses the intersection of dance, creativity, and health and well-being to clarify the distinctive contribution of creative-based dance across clinical and non-clinical populations, identifying recurrent mechanisms to inform future research and intervention design. METHODS:Following SANRA guidelines, a structured search (2015-2025) was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and PsycINFO. Studies were included if creative-based dance - where improvisation, expressive movement, or motor creativity were central - addressed outcomes relevant to health and well-being. From 417 records identified, 56 studies were synthesised narratively. RESULTS:Creative-based dance is associated with physical, psychological, and social benefits across the lifespan. In non-clinical populations, findings show improvements in emotional regulation, body awareness, self-confidence, and social connectedness. In clinical contexts, these practices correlate with improved functional outcomes, emotional stabilization, and a renewed sense of agency and self-expression. CONCLUSIONS:Creative-based dance represents strategically important pathway within arts and health by foregrounding active ingredients like improvisation, exploratory movement and co-creation. This review shifts the focus from whether dance benefits health toward how specific creative processes support dimensions of health and well-being. While more mechanism-sensitive research is needed, these findings provide a conceptual basis for designing nuanced, multidimensional interventions across educational, community, and healthcare settings.
The mental health crisis in the US has been exacerbated since the COVID-19 pandemic and remains fraught with health disparities. Given the prior US Surgeon General's advisory declaring an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, a social-ecological approach which incorporates cross-sectoral vantage points is necessary to comprehensively address this crisis. Research shows arts engagement can be leveraged for the promotion of health and for the prevention and treatment of illness. Management and treatment within the context of arts and health has realized compelling evidence as it pertains to mental illness and mental health among other health experiences. In the US, this intersection has gained momentum following national-interagency work amongst the NIH, NEA, HHS, and the White House Domestic Policy Council. While this work has historically garnered bipartisan support across administrations, the volatility of the most recent administration reinforces the need to progress localized efforts. This commentary frames an waning policy window characterized by the mental health crisis, arts and mental health-based solutions, and rising national needs - advancing key strategies for mobilizing arts and mental health advocacy. Advocates should familiarize themselves with the evidence base, learn effective models, understand existing policies, and develop well-supported case-making strategies to build infrastructure.
OBJECTIVES:First Nations musicians often describe live performance as a means of fostering social, cultural, and political change that shapes determinants of health (DoH) for First Nations Peoples. This study examined how audience experiences of First Nations live music events in Central Australia may influence those DoH - including intercultural understanding, social cohesion, and community wellbeing - and explored the durability of such effects over time. DESIGN:Guided by an Indigenist mixed‑methods approach, we conducted a pilot survey at two arts festivals featuring diverse First Nations musicians, followed by optional six‑month "mini yarn" interviews to explore immediate and longer‑term audience experiences. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test; qualitative data were thematically analysed and reviewed with community partners. PARTICIPANTS:Seventy‑eight audience members completed the survey. Most identified as non‑Indigenous (n = 69), with four identifying as Aboriginal or of mixed First Nations heritage. Participants represented a wide range of ages, genders, and sexual identities. RESULTS:Respondents across cultural backgrounds reported positive social, emotional, and cultural effects. Non‑Indigenous attendees frequently described strengthened connections with First Nations communities, greater appreciation for First Nations cultures and languages, and motivation to support First Nations issues. Follow‑up yarns suggested that although some effects lessened, many participants reported sustained intercultural understanding or connection. CONCLUSION:Findings indicate that First Nations live music may influence social and cultural DoH by fostering intercultural understanding, allyship, and reconciliation‑oriented attitudes. The six‑month follow‑up underscores the value of examining both immediate and enduring impacts of live music on health and social cohesion.
BACKGROUND:This manuscript reflects on the role of visual art as a gentle and meaningful pathway for supporting the cognitive development of children on the autism spectrum. Rather than approaching autism through deficit based assumptions, it foregrounds the potential of visual engagement as a supportive mode of learning. PURPOSE:The manuscript aims to explore how images, patterns, shapes, and repeated visual interaction may create conditions for focus, memory, recognition, and understanding among autistic children. APPROACH:Through poetic reflection, the manuscript presents visual therapy not as a form of pressure or correction, but as a patient and responsive space in which learning may unfold at a different rhythm. It considers how art can serve children whose experiences of language, attention, and sensory processing may not align with dominant educational expectations. FINDINGS:The reflection suggests that visual art can function as a bridge between confusion and comprehension. Visual engagement is framed as part of a broader practice of care, inclusion, and wellbeing, enabling cognitive growth while respecting difference and dignity. CONCLUSION:The manuscript contributes to conversations in arts and health by portraying art as more than an aesthetic activity. It positions visual art as a humane and supportive medium through which alternative forms of learning, cognitive development, and inclusion may be nurtured.
BACKGROUND:Oncology nurses experience work-related stress and difficult emotions related to sustained exposure to patient suffering, death, and moral distress. While creative and music-based approaches have been explored to support nurses' emotional well-being, little is known about the acceptability and perceived helpfulness of listening to nurse-focused songs previously written for their nursing peers. METHODS:An exploratory, proof-of-concept, qualitative design. Participants were recruited throughout the United States. They listened to a playlist of songs, previously written for oncology nurses, for two weeks. Focus groups explored participants' experiences listening to the songs. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. RESULTS:Five oncology nurses participated. Analysis revealed one overarching theme, Connection, with three interrelated subthemes describing participants' connections to their work-related emotions, professional identity, and colleagues. Participants' responses indicated variability in acceptability and perceived helpfulness. CONCLUSIONS:Listening to nurse-focused songs was acceptable and meaningful for some oncology nurses and may offer a reflective and relational resource for coping with work-related stress and emotions. Findings highlight individual differences in preferences and readiness for emotional engagement and support further investigation to refine and evaluate curated music-listening approaches for nurses.
BACKGROUND:While group singing is a long-standing human practice, a growing body of research highlights its potential to address psychosocial challenges that are prevalent in older adulthood and individuals diagnosed with neurodegenerative and age-associated conditions, such as Parkinson's. This study assessed the impact of group singing on biological, psychological, and social dimensions of wellbeing. METHODS:Two community choirs were launched, one for healthy aging older adults and one for Parkinson's. Participants (N = 24) completed assessments on mood (positive/negative affect), social bonding, pain thresholds, cortisol, and oxytocin, before and after 45 min of singing at week 2 and week 7 of a 12-week choir to explore both immediate (within sessions) and cumulative (across session) effects. RESULTS:Results indicated that both groups experienced within session improvements in positive/negative mood (p < 0.001, p = 0.03), social bonding (p = 0.01), pain thresholds (p = 0.02), and reductions in cortisol levels (p = 0.05) following group singing, with benefits accumulating across sessions for all outcomes (all ps. <0.05), except cortisol (p = 0.08). No differences were found between the healthy aging and the Parkinson's groups (all ps. <0.05), suggesting the generalizability of group singing's benefits. Self-reported singing abilities did not impact the benefits gained from the choir program. CONCLUSION:Findings demonstrate the potential of group singing to enhance psychosocial wellbeing in older adults regardless of the presence of neurodegenerative condition or self-reported singing ability. In addition, the findings provide new insights regarding the potential biological mechanisms that may be underpinning these effects.
BACKGROUND:Creative Arts Therapy (CAT) and Arts in Health (AH) are increasingly recognised for their contributions to patient wellbeing, staff engagement, and the overall quality of care in healthcare settings. However, the integration of these practices depended heavily on how healthcare administrators understood their distinct purposes, professional boundaries, and potential impact. METHODS:This study investigated organisational perceptions of CAT and AH through a mixed-methods survey of 74 healthcare administrators working across clinical, community, and educational settings. A framework analysis was conducted to examine how varying levels of familiarity influenced hiring decisions, role definition, service provision, and opportunities for professional development. RESULTS:The findings revealed generally positive attitudes toward both CAT and AH, with many administrators acknowledging their value in delivering holistic and person-centred care. However, there remained widespread confusion regarding the differences between therapeutic and non-therapeutic arts roles. This lack of clarity led to inconsistencies in position descriptions, under-utilisation of qualified practitioners, and uncertainty around professional standards and credentialing. Administrators expressed a need for clearer policy guidance, standardised classifications, and improved organisational education about the scope, ethics, and training of arts practitioners. CONCLUSION:These results highlighted a pressing need to build organisational literacy and establish consistent frameworks for integrating arts-based professionals into healthcare systems. By clarifying professional roles and improving alignment with ethical and legal requirements, healthcare organisations could better support effective service delivery, workforce development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Hybrid (in-person and virtual) sessions, including those involving medical humanities, are increasingly ubiquitous in health professional education since the COVID-19 pandemic. Ed's Story, a verbatim play written from the journal of an adolescent/young adult (AYA) osteosarcoma patient, has been utilized in medical education at Canadian institutions for over a decade. However, we have never integrated Ed's Story into sessions for pediatric resident physicians (PRPs) or pediatric oncology healthcare professionals (HCPs). We explored how hybrid sessions using Ed's Story, combining both passive viewing of a recording of the play followed by reader's theatre (RT) of the script, impacted PRPs and HCPs working in the provincial pediatric oncology program at our tertiary children's hospital. Hybrid sessions were feasible and enjoyable; participant empathy increased post-session; and the majority of participants preferred watching the recording over RT. Inductive thematic analysis of narrative feedback identified five themes: new or broadened understanding of interdisciplinary pediatric oncology care and patient/family illness experiences; recognition of AYA care needs; appreciation for nuances of advanced communication; acknowledgement of new skills gained; and session/logistic feedback. These results will inform future iterations of Ed's Story to optimize content delivery and session structure.
