Aesthetic engagement as health and wellbeing promotion
| Date | 05 December 2019 |
| Published date | 05 December 2019 |
| Pages | 240-247 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-11-2018-0080 |
| Author | Anita Jensen,Wenche Torrissen |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Aesthetic engagement as health and
wellbeing promotion
Anita Jensen and Wenche Torrissen
Abstract
Purpose –Evidence shows that participating in arts activities can increase wellbeing. The purpose of this
paper is to explore connections between aesthetic engagement and the wellbeing of participants on a ten
weeks Arts on Prescription programme (AoP).
Design/methodology/approach –Semi-structured interviewswere conducted with seven participants (with
mild to moderate depression, stress or anxiety). A thematic analysis was used to identify themes in the data.
Findings –The findings illustrate that the participants in the AoP programme showed increased levels of
motivation, and it opened up new worlds for connection with sensory experiences such as: relief, joy and
peace of mind. The themes identified were: engagement and pleasure, deep emotional experiences and
expanding worlds.
Originality/value –Aesthetic engagement through an AoP programme has the potential to stimulate the
senses, motivate personal involvement and connect individuals with parts of themselves that has been
neglected through illness. The participants experienced new possibilities through aesthetic engagement;
offering connections to sensory,cognitive and emotional toolsthat can boost wellbeing. In thisway, facilitated
programmessuch as AoP can contribute positivelyto public health. However,further studies are necessaryin
order to exploreand establish the complex connections between aesthetic engagement andwellbeing.
Keywords Aesthetics, Mental health, Wellbeing, Arts engagement, Arts on Prescription
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
In recent years, the evidence base for using arts in health and care settings has grown
substantially. Numerous studies illustrate the benefits of using the arts for health purposes and
the results show physical, mental health and public health benefits for participants (Clift and
Camic, 2016; Gordon-Nesbitt, 2018). Some studies are focussed on how the benefits from the
various aesthetic experiences are effective for health promotion (Freeman, 2012; Hesemans,
2017), including the role of theatre and visual arts for mental health (Jensen et al., 2016;
Torrissen and Stickley, 2018), and dance, singing or going to a concert for physical health and
social health (Bonde and Theorell, 2018; Davidson and Emberly, 2012; Theorell and Kreutz,
2012). Other studies have explored how noise pollution in hospitals, unpleasant physical
environments and exposure to favoured aesthetic stimuli affects wellbeing (Fillary et al., 2015;
Juang et al., 2010; Lyendo et al., 2016). Internationally, there is a growing awareness and
evidence of the benefits of social prescribing projects and how these can promote possibilities
for improved health outcomes including increased social contact, improved self-esteem, less
anxiety and so on. A recent Danish report on an Arts on Prescription (AoP) programme offered by
Aalborg Mental Health Centre shows all these benefits ( Jensen, 2018).
Despite theincreasing interest in theconnections between arts andhealth, there are many aspects
of arts and health initiatives that remain under-researched, andone of these is the significance of
aesthetic engagement. In the Lancet, Moss and O’Neill (2014) pointed out some of the
consequencesof aesthetic deprivationin clinical settings and raisequestions about the importance
of aesthetics in health and illness. They draw attention to the lack of research concerning the
importance of aesthetics for wellbeing and the use of art and aesthetics in everyday life.
Received 3 December 2018
Revised 15 March 2019
Accepted 17 March 2019
No potential conflict of interest was
reported by the authors.
Anita Jensen is based at the
Centre for Culture and Health,
Aalborg University,
Copenhagen, Denmark.
Wenche Torrissen is based at
the Department of Drama and
Theatre, Volda University,
Volda, Norway.
PAGE240
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JOURNAL OF PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH
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VOL. 18 NO. 4 2019, pp. 240-247, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-5729 DOI 10.1108/JPMH-11-2018-0080
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