Culture and art can have positive health effects, studies show

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.November 16, 2020

Studies show that culture and the arts can have positive health effects.

“Incorporating the arts into health services is an investment in a person’s overall well-being. It is especially important in long-term care,” says researcher Kai Lehikoinen, who is the director of the Center for Educational Research and Academic Development in the Arts. CERADA) at the Helsinki University of the Arts (Uniarts Helsinki) in Finland.

Modern hospitals aim for safe operations, high quality diagnostics and efficient treatments. Health is examined from the point of view of a person’s biological well-being, which is also the basis in planning treatment practices. Not much attention is paid to culture and the arts.

The experience of chronically ill patients, in particular, is often that they do not have access to art and culture in their care setting. “

Taru-Anneli Koivisto, D.Octoral Student, Uniarts Helsinki

Culture and the arts are good for health

The positive impact of culture and the arts can have multiple health benefits.

According to an extensive report published by the World Health Organization, the arts can influence health-related social factors, contribute to children’s development, promote health-enhancing behaviors, prevent disease and support patient treatment.

Artistic activities can also help mental health rehabilitators and those with neurological disorders and benefit acute care and noncommunicable disease treatment. Art can also play an important role in terminal care.

“It would be wonderful if methods that have been proven effective could be efficiently integrated into daily treatment practices,” says Clinical Nursing Science Professor Sanna Salanterä of the University of Turku, Finland.

Making organizations more agile through culture

As more attention is paid to art and culture in health services, patient care will become increasingly ethical.

“When we understand the cultural contexts of health, it helps us to see patients as individuals whose life, well-being and health are, to a large extent, defined by culture. Taking into account the patient’s cultural needs will support their well-being over a period of disease and crisis, “Lehikoinen notes.

With the help of art, organizations could establish a more open way of doing and discussing things, experts say. This would help staff working in health services organizations to take a more balanced view of what wellbeing entails and strengthen mutual trust. As a result, organizations may also become more agile than before.