It’s official: research says seeing live music works wonders for your health
See you in the mosh pit
We’re all familiar with the rush of endorphins that come after watching our favourite artist on stage, but now, new research has uncovered tangible health benefits to investing in our artistic and cultural pursuits.
If you’ve been hesitant about splurging on those concert tickets you’ve been eyeing for weeks – unsure if rocking out with your favourite band is a ‘worthy investment’ or not – allow us to convince you to pull the trigger.
Because according to new research, investing in your favourite artistic and cultural activities may be the wisest thing you can do for your overall well-being.
The UK-based review – a collaboration between Frontier and the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Arts and Health – found participants of all ages, genders and social backgrounds benefited substantially from regularly attending or participating in artistic pursuits.
Whether it was participating in a community art class, listening to a new symphony or sitting in the front row at the Ballet, experts found people who engaged in cultural activities – even only occasionally – had a reduced chance of suffering from physical and psychological ailments.
“Engagement with performance-based art such as plays, musicals and ballet, and particularly participation in music, is linked to reductions in depression and in pain and improved quality of life,” co-author of the research Matthew Bell tells The Guardian.
For example, one study in the review found a significant number of young adults aged between 18 and 28 – 3,333 to be exact – reported an elevated sense of happiness and meaning after taking part in organised theatrical, musical or artistic activities.
“Arts engagement has diverse and tangible effects on health, from supporting cognitive development and protecting against cognitive decline to reducing symptoms of mental illness and enhancing wellbeing, reducing pain and stress, via the same neurological and physiological pathways activated by medication, reducing loneliness, and maintaining physical functioning, thereby reducing frailty and age-related physical decline,” explains Prof Daisy Fancourt, the director of the WHO centre and a co-author of the research.
“Arts engagement can help to reduce unnecessary pressure on health services, through helping individuals to manage their own health more proactively, such as staying physically active and socially engaged and reducing the need for inpatient hospital and nursing home stays,” she adds.
It pays to invest in our artistic pursuits
While the emotional and psychological benefits associated with the arts may seem like a no-brainer to most, the research also highlights the potential for significant monetary gain.
According to the findings, taking part in creative pursuits could result in dividends of up to £1,000 a year (roughly $2,000 Aussie dollars), as a result of improvements to quality of life and overall well-being.
In one study, adults aged over 65 who participated in community drawing classes every week for three months created a financial dividend of on average £1,310 each, a number researchers calculated based on less frequent visits to the GP or health professionals.
Overall, the review suggests arts and culture in the UK bring roughly £8bn worth of benefits to society due to improved quality of life and improved productivity at work.
More Coverage
Originally published as It’s official: research says seeing live music works wonders for your health
