Benefits of Arts with Health and Wellbeing

True Health Arts Therapies Survey 2023

Purpose of the Study

We’re trying to gain a baseline understanding of clinicians on whether they feel arts and health are related and to what extent art can be used to improve health. The ultimate goal of this survey is to provide insights into how clinicians may see the link between health and arts and the steps to consider to help improve the factors that are associated with positive patient outcomes. 

Though not an exhaustive literature review, the following is a summary of published articles and sources that we reviewed that suggest a link between arts and patient outcomes. With the focus on patients’ overall wellbeing, the impact of this cross-collaboration can be a major turning point for healthcare within local communities and beyond. 

Findings & Themes

Theme 1: Art & Music Therapy

In The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, a study outlines a rare neurological, polio-like condition that suddenly left Gracie Fisher, an artist and composer, paralyzed from the neck down (Fortuna, 2020). She also went into respiratory failure and was intubated, requiring a ventilator to breathe. After five weeks in the intensive care unit, Gracie’s condition was unchanged, so she was transferred to another hospital, where she began intensive inpatient rehabilitation, including five hours of therapy each day. Gracie’s occupational therapist suggested that she try adaptive art and music therapy to tap into her intrinsic motivation, serve as a creative outlet, and strengthen her neck muscles. Gracie’s muscles grew stronger with time and practice, and she returned home eight months later, making an astounding recovery. Gracie believes art comes in many forms, and with the right environment, tools, and support, anyone can be set up to succeed.

Theme 2: Art Psychotherapy

Another study published in the Journal of Nursing reveals that children who suffer from critical illness often face significant life changes during hospitalization (Chien-Yueh Chiang, Hsiu-Man Lin, & Shu-Tsen Liu, 2023). Specifically with long-term hospitalization, pediatric patients often experience feelings of isolation, anxiety, helplessness, and hopelessness. With the efficacy of art psychotherapy (AT), children can better cope with suffering illness and distressing medical treatment procedures. In AT, the process of creation and play helps them express emotions nonverbally and experience catharsis in gentle and safe ways. AT can also promote a sense of security by building courage, mental stability, and readiness to face upcoming medical treatments and procedures. This sets pediatric patients up for a better recovery and overall healing process.

Theme 3: Arts as the “Fifth Wave” of Public Health

Finally, a white paper shared by two hundred and fifty thought leaders from the public health, arts and culture, and community development sectors calls for the public health sector to embrace arts and culture as a readily available resource and partner in advancing health, well-being, and equity (Sonke, J., Golden, T., Francois, S., Hand, J., Chandra, A., Clemmons, L., Fakunle, D., Jackson, M.R.,Magsamen, S., Rubin, V., Sams, K., Springs, S. 2019). It also states that arts and culture can be considered a fundamental component in the “fifth wave” of public health, which is a new health paradigm emphasizing the need for cultural change (Hanlon, P., Carlisle, S., Hannah, M., Reilly, D., & Lyon, A. 2011). Proponents of the fifth wave acknowledge that there is no single step that can be taken to advance health. Instead, health should be integrated into all aspects of social life, including policy, education, and sociocultural norms. Arts and culture are critical to this integrating process because they can connect people, expose root issues, magnify underrepresented voices and concerns, and shift sociocultural norms and collective behaviors.

Conclusion

It can be challenging for the public health system to support overall wellbeing, create social connections, spark and sustain movements, communicate across differences, and transform systems and cultures. Throughout history, though, the arts have accomplished all these things and more. Thus the arts & culture and public health sectors can partner together to create stronger, healthier, and more equitable communities. To accomplish this, it’s imperative to gather clinicians’ feedback and see if the right education, tools, and resources are available for this kind of collaboration to take place. 

To learn more from the different research we’ve conducted and learnings from our lives, check out our articles on the Resources Portal.

References

Chien-Yueh Chiang, Hsiu-Man LIN, & Shu-Tsen Liu. (2023). Healing Through Art and Play for Hospitalized Children With Medical Trauma. Journal of Nursing, 70(3), 19–25. https://doi.org/10.6224/JN.202306_70(3).04

Fortuna, J. K. (2020). Healing the Mind and Soul with Art and Music. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 8(4), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1797  

Hanlon, P., Carlisle, S., Hannah, M., Reilly, D., & Lyon, A. (2011). Making the case for a ‘fifth wave’ in public health. Public Health, 125(1), 30–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2010.09.004  

Sonke, J., Golden, T., Francois, S., Hand, J., Chandra, A., Clemmons, L., Fakunle, D., Jackson, M.R.,Magsamen, S., Rubin, V., Sams, K., Springs, S. (2019). Creating Healthy Communities through Cross-Sector Collaboration [White paper]. University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine / ArtPlace America.