ArticleBMJ open2021
Associations between community cultural engagement and life satisfaction, mental distress and mental health functioning using data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS): are associations moderated by area deprivation?
Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- From awareness to understanding: translating mental health literacy into inclusive and empathic practice.BJPsych international · 2026Article
- Social prescribing services for patients with musculoskeletal conditions compared with other long-term health conditions in the UK: a cross-sectional study.BMJ public health · 2025Article
- Inequalities in geographical distribution of heritage in Scotland, investigating spatial exposure to heritage sites through area-based and individual-based (GPS) measurement.Wellbeing, space and society · 2024Article
- Is social capital higher in areas with a higher density of historic assets? Analyses of 11,112 adults living in England.Perspectives in public health · 2024Review
- Leisure engagement in older age is related to objective and subjective experiences of aging.Nature communications · 2024Article
- Article
- Longitudinal Associations Between Arts Engagement and Flourishing in Young Adults: A Fixed Effects Analysis of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics.Affective science · 2023Article
- Use of online cultural content for mental health and well-being during COVID-19 restrictions: cross-sectional survey.BJPsych bulletin · 2022Review
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThe association between community cultural engagement and mental health and well-being is well established. However, little is known about whether such associations are influenced by area characteristics. This study therefore examined whether the association between engagement in community cultural assets (attendance at cultural events, visiting museums and heritage sites) and subsequent well-being (life satisfaction, mental distress and mental health functioning) is moderated by neighbourhood deprivation.
designData were drawn from Understanding Society: The UK Household Longitudinal Study waves 2 and 5. Participating households' addresses were geocoded into statistical neighbourhood zones categorised according to their level of area deprivation.
settingGeneral population.
participantsUK general adult population, with a total sample of 14 783.
main outcome measuresLife satisfaction was measured with a seven-point scale (1: completely unsatisfied to 7: completely satisfied). Mental distress was measured using the General Health Questionnaire 12. Mental health functioning was measured using 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12).
resultsUsing Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, we found that engagement in cultural assets was consistently and positively associated with subsequent life satisfaction and mental health functioning and negatively associated with mental distress. Importantly, such associations were independent of individuals' demographic background, socioeconomic characteristics and regional location. The results also show that relationships between engagement in community cultural assets and well-being were stronger in more deprived areas.
conclusionsThis study shows that engagement in community cultural assets is associated with better well-being, with some evidence that individuals in areas of high deprivation potentially may benefit more from these engagements. Given that causal mechanisms were not tested, causal claims cannot be generated from the results. However, the results suggest that place-based funding schemes that involve investment in areas of higher deprivation to improve engagement rates should be explored further to see if they can help promote better well-being among residents.
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