Links between culture, health and happiness

The Impact of Cultural Engagement and Sports Participation on Health and Satisfaction with Life

A survey in Scotland has found that people who engage in culture are more likely to report good health.

Flag of Scotland
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Participation in culture is significantly associated with good health and high life satisfaction in Scotland, according to the latest research. A detailed study by Scottish Government analysts of the impact on health of both culture and sport, based on data from the Scottish Household Survey 2011, confirms for the first time that participating in culture or attending cultural places or events has a positive impact on the nation’s health and life satisfaction.

The report, Healthy Attendance: The Impact of Cultural Engagement and Sports Participation on Health and Satisfaction with life in Scotland 2013, identifies a positive link with wellbeing even when other factors including age, economic status, income, area deprivation, education qualification, disability or long-standing illness and smoking are accounted for.

thankfully shared from

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent

thankfully shared from

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent

thankfully shared from

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent

thankfully shared from

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent

thankfully shared from

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent

Key findings show:

• Those who attended a cultural place or event in the previous 12 months were almost 60 per cent more likely to report good health compared to those who did not.
• Those who participated in a creative or cultural activity in the previous 12 months were 38 per cent more likely to report good health compared to those who did not.
• Those who visited a library and those who visited a museum were almost 20 per cent more likely to report good health than those who had not.
• Those who visited a theatre were almost 25 per cent more likely to report good health than those who did not.
• Those who participated in dance were 62 per cent more likely to report good health than those who did not.
• Those who read for pleasure were 33 per cent more likely to report good health than those who did not.

The research follows data from the 2010 Scottish Household Survey that shows that people who are encouraged to participate in cultural activity as children are more likely to continue to do so into adulthood.

The survey involved nearly 10,000 respondents. 

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reference courtesy:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0043/00430649.pdf

http://www.enterprise-europe-scotland.com

http://www.scotland.gov.uk

http://www.heraldscotland.com

http://new.a-n.co.uk

http://www.modernghana.com