Display candidate transaction variables for article
| Id | 164 | |
| Author | Thomson, L. J.; Lockyer, B.; Camic, P. M.; Chatterjee, H. J. | |
| Title | Effects of a museum-based social prescription intervention on quantitative measures of psychological wellbeing in older adults | |
| Reference | Thomson, L. J., Lockyer, B., Camic, P. M., y Chatterjee, H. J. (2018). Effects of a museum-based social prescription intervention on quantitative measures of psychological wellbeing in older adults. Perspectives in Public Health, 138(1), 28–38. |
Link to article | https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913917737563 |
| Abstract | To assess psychological wellbeing in a novel social prescription intervention for older adults called Museums on Prescription and to explore the extent of change over time in six self-rated emotions (‘absorbed’, ‘active’, ‘cheerful’, ‘encouraged’, ‘enlightened’ and ‘inspired’).
Methods:
Participants (n = 115) aged 65–94 years were referred to museum-based programmes comprising 10 weekly sessions, by healthcare and third sector organisations using inclusion criteria (e.g. socially isolated, able to give informed consent, not in employment, not regularly attending social or cultural activities) and exclusion criteria (e.g. unable to travel to the museum, unable to function in a group situation, unlikely to be able to attend all sessions, unable to take part in interviews and complete questionnaires). In a within-participants’ design, the Museum Wellbeing Measure for Older Adults (MWM-OA) was administered pre-post session at start-, mid- and end-programme. A total of 12 programmes, facilitated by museum staff and volunteers, were conducted in seven museums in central London and across Kent. In addition to the quantitative measures, participants, carers where present, museum staff and researchers kept weekly diaries following guideline questions and took part in end-programme in-depth interviews.
Results:
Multivariate analyses of variance showed significant participant improvements in all six MWM-OA emotions, pre-post session at start-, mid- and end-programme. Two emotions, ‘absorbed’ and ‘enlightened’, increased pre-post session disproportionately to the others; ‘cheerful’ attained the highest pre-post session scores whereas ‘active’ was consistently lowest.
Conclusion:
Museums can be instrumental in offering museum-based programmes for older adults to improve psychological wellbeing over time. Participants in the study experienced a sense of privilege, valued the opportunity to liaise with curators, visit parts of the museum closed to the public and handle objects normally behind glass. Participants appreciated opportunities afforded by creative and co-productive activities to acquire learning and skills, and get to know new people in a different context. |
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| Conclusion: Museums can be instrumental in offering museum-based programmes for older adults to improve psychological wellbeing over time. . | CONCLUSION Museums can be instrumental in offering older adult activities that improve psychological wellbeing and may lead to long-term outcomes such as sustained social capital and enhanced physical health. . | The reported study contributes to a wider body of evidence on how cultural engagement can bring about positive outcomes for older adults at risk of social exclusion by improving positive emotion; it is likely that this occurs through creative processes involving new learning and acquisition of skills, and the formation of social capital through co-productivity, exchange of ideas, and enhanced sense of community and belonging. . | Research has shown that museum spaces and the collections they house provide opportunities for positive social interactions, calming experiences, learning and acquisition of new skills, leading to increased self-esteem, sense of identity, inspiration and opportunities for meaning making, in addition to reduced social isolation and decreased anxiety.7 . | The social resources engendered by the museum-based programme directly increased the positive affect demonstrated by significant improvements in the wellbeing emotions, and it is likely that physical health for some participants will also improve; one participant reported that since taking part in the museum programme they felt more positive about my life and health and more determined to keep up my practice of photography and painting that required a level of physical fitness as the participant had formed a meet-up group to go sketching in and around a contemporary art gallery. . | When interviewed, many participants highlighted the opportunity to handle museum objects and engage with collections and curators; they commented on learning new information and being absorbed by it, and acquiring new skills, which could account for increases in the absorbed and enlightened items of the measure. . | Many museums have skills and expertise suitable for wider audiences such as disadvantaged, vulnerable and older adults and can provide access-appropriate community spaces within inspirational environments. . | Participants in the Museums on Prescription study rated highly the experiences of feeling absorbed and enlightened by the sessions and commented on the opportunities afforded by the museum-based activities to acquire new learning and develop new skills. . | Participants appreciated opportunities afforded by creative and co-productive activities to acquire learning and skills, and get to know new people in a different context.. | Participants noted the importance of facilitators listening to our ideas and how helpful it was to feel intellectually challenged. . |
MESOC has received funding
from Horizon 2020 - the EU Framework Programme
for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) -
under Grant Agreement n°870935.
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