Urszula Tymoszuk1,2, Rosie Perkins1,2, Daisy Fancourt3, Aaron Williamon4,5. 1. Centre for Performance Science, Royal College of Music, London, UK. 2. Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK. 3. Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK. 4. Centre for Performance Science, Royal College of Music, London, UK. aaron.williamon@rcm.ac.uk. 5. Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK. aaron.williamon@rcm.ac.uk.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Loneliness in older adulthood is a societal and public health challenge warranting identification of sustainable and community-based protective factors. This study investigated whether frequency of receptive arts engagement is associated with lower odds of loneliness in older adults. METHODS: We used data of respondents from waves 2 (2004-2005) and 7 (2014-2015) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and examined cross-sectional (n = 6222) and longitudinal (n = 3127) associations between frequency of receptive arts engagement (including visits to the cinema, museums/galleries/exhibitions, theatre/concerts/opera) and odds of loneliness (cut-off ≥ 6 on three-item short form of the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale). We fitted logistic regression models adjusted for a range of sociodemographic, economic, health and social, community and civic engagement factors. RESULTS: Cross-sectionally, we found dose-response negative associations between engagement with all receptive arts activities and odds of loneliness. Prospectively, in the fully-adjusted models we found most robust evidence for the negative association between engagement with museums/galleries/exhibitions and odds of loneliness (OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.48-0.95) for those who engaged every few months or more often compared with those who never engaged. We found weaker evidence for lower odds of loneliness for more frequent engagement with theatre/concerts/opera. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent engagement with certain receptive arts activities and venues, particularly museums, galleries and exhibitions, may be a protective factor against loneliness in older adults. Future research is needed to identify the mechanisms through which this process may occur, leading to better understanding of how arts activities and venues can reduce loneliness among older adults.
PURPOSE: Loneliness in older adulthood is a societal and public health challenge warranting identification of sustainable and community-based protective factors. This study investigated whether frequency of receptive arts engagement is associated with lower odds of loneliness in older adults. METHODS: We used data of respondents from waves 2 (2004-2005) and 7 (2014-2015) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and examined cross-sectional (n = 6222) and longitudinal (n = 3127) associations between frequency of receptive arts engagement (including visits to the cinema, museums/galleries/exhibitions, theatre/concerts/opera) and odds of loneliness (cut-off ≥ 6 on three-item short form of the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale). We fitted logistic regression models adjusted for a range of sociodemographic, economic, health and social, community and civic engagement factors. RESULTS: Cross-sectionally, we found dose-response negative associations between engagement with all receptive arts activities and odds of loneliness. Prospectively, in the fully-adjusted models we found most robust evidence for the negative association between engagement with museums/galleries/exhibitions and odds of loneliness (OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.48-0.95) for those who engaged every few months or more often compared with those who never engaged. We found weaker evidence for lower odds of loneliness for more frequent engagement with theatre/concerts/opera. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent engagement with certain receptive arts activities and venues, particularly museums, galleries and exhibitions, may be a protective factor against loneliness in older adults. Future research is needed to identify the mechanisms through which this process may occur, leading to better understanding of how arts activities and venues can reduce loneliness among older adults.
Entities:
Keywords:
Ageing; Arts; Cohort study; Cultural engagement; ELSA; Perceived isolation
Authors: Simon M Rice; David Kealy; John S Ogrodniczuk; Zac E Seidler; Gabriela Montaner; Suzanne Chambers; John L Oliffe Journal: Am J Mens Health Date: 2021 May-Jun
Authors: Felix Müller; Susanne Röhr; Ulrich Reininghaus; Steffi G Riedel-Heller Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-31 Impact factor: 3.390