Using Art to Improve Wellbeing

“Researchers from Trinity College Dublin, the University of Vienna, and Humboldt University of Berlin have discovered that viewing visual art can improve mental well-being. The benefits do not require prolonged exposure; even a brief engagement with a single picture might be enough to lift spirits and reduce stress. To reach these conclusions, the researchers analysed 38 studies that involved more than 6800 participants – a number of people that would fill up 17 Edmund Burke Theatres or more than six Trinity Halls. The inclusion criteria were strict: only the studies in which improvements could be clearly attributed to art viewing were considered. For instance, if the artwork was installed in a large office space and the research had no measures to verify whether employees had actually seen it, this study was excluded because it was unclear whether the reported improvement in employee well-being was associated with a piece of art that might not have even been noticed. In line with this reasoning, researchers also restricted selection to the studies where participants were self-aware that they were engaging with art. The review focused on visual arts, which included paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations. The study primarily aimed to inform practitioners and researchers who are interested in creating museum programs or installing art in hospitals for well-being benefits, so researchers excluded performance art. Art viewing was set in different locations, with over a quarter occurring in galleries or museums, another quarter held online, just over a fifth in clinical environments, and 16% in laboratory conditions. This diversity meant the studies spanned many different groups, including students, hospital patients and their visitors, healthcare staff, and individuals living with dementia. Exposure times varied dramatically, lasting from two and a half minutes to three days of intermittent viewing. The researchers set out to examine where, when and for whom art viewing improves (and whether it does) outcomes like wellbeing, stress, anxiety and pain. Importantly, they distinguished between different types of well-being: evaluative (related to overall life satisfaction), eudaimonic (linked to meaning in life and personal growth) and emotional (associated with mood, happiness and emotions). The strongest and most consistent gains were seen in eudaimonic well-being, as participants frequently described an increased sense of purpose and greater meaning in life after engaging with art. Improvements in emotional well-being and stress were more or less common, with more than half of the studies reporting significant improvements. However, changes in evaluative well-being and pain were rarely observed. To explain these effects, the authors proposed several pathways through which the viewing of art can foster well-being. Emotionally, visual art can evoke positive feelings like awe, wonder and aesthetic pleasure, activating reward networks in the brain and lifting up mood. Also, artwork may provide a safe space to process difficult or existential feelings, helping participants explore, rather than avoid them. At the same time, engaging with artwork can promote self-transformation and identity maintenance. Encountering art can prompt people to reflect and reevaluate their thoughts, perspectives, attitudes and beliefs about themselves and the world. As the authors note, “stigmas, worldviews, and habits can be reappraised, disregarded, or updated as part of this process”. During follow-up group discussions about the meaning of art, viewers commonly interpret artwork through personal memories and experiences, which turns art viewing into a means of understanding both oneself and society. At the same time, viewing art can catalyse the feeling of empowerment, which is associated with having more positive ideas about one’s abilities and is closely linked with feeling hope, inspiration and motivation to achieve one’s goals. Also, art experiences were related to identity maintenance. This is particularly valuable for patients who see themselves as defined by their illness: art can help them redefine and restore their identity. Also, viewing art can promote psychological restoration and resilience, as ‘soft fascination can protect against mental fatigue and overstimulation’, as well as increase one’s resources to deal with life events. Some studies mentioned that art viewing can positively influence cortisol levels, heart rate and blood pressure, but authors note that much more research is needed to confirm these biological processes during engagement with art. Finally, many benefits arise from the social context in which art is experienced. When art is viewed or discussed with others, it can foster greater connection, reducing feelings of isolation and creating a stronger sense of belonging. For example, group discussions frequently include co-constructing the meaning of the artwork, which appears to flatten hierarchies and contributes to the feeling of being valued. This interaction can also foster the feeling of group belonging, which can benefit clinical patients. Meanwhile, in caregiving contexts, viewing sessions can benefit both patients and caregivers, improving their relationships (and, indirectly, the quality of care). Also, shared viewing experiences can spark deeper conversations and strengthen bonds between individuals who attended the art viewing sessions together, leading to a stronger connection. Crucially, the review highlights that these effects depend heavily on context. Authors acknowledge that factors like setting, duration of exposure and accompanying activities all shape how art influences wellbeing, which is the novel contribution of this study. Participant characteristics are important as well: empowerment processes, for example, may be especially relevant for older adults or people with dementia, while identity-related benefits are most evident in clinical environments. Given how accessible and relatively low-cost art is, the authors suggest that incorporating artwork into public spaces, educational institutions and healthcare facilities represents a promising tool for supporting public wellbeing. However, they also caution that evidence is not uniformly strong. Many studies relied on self-reported well-being, some descriptions of the art-viewing experience were incomplete, and sample sizes were frequently small. To help improve forthcoming publications, the authors developed the Receptive Art Activity Research Reporting Guidelines (RAARR), which provides a guide for future researchers on how to describe art interventions and experiences. In a nutshell, what do these findings mean for students? Well, stepping away from the library to spend time viewing art is not a waste of time – it may be exactly the kind of mental reset you need. Exploring a gallery with your friend or partner can also spur interesting conversations between you, so definitely worth giving a try!

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