By John Salak –
Don’t sneer at those images of arts and activities events for mature adults as simply busy-keeping exercises designed to fill a day. Group arts interventions—such as painting, music and dance—are a recipe for significantly reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety among older adults that can lead to even more serious physical and mental health issues. In fact, group art activities aid mature mental health by fostering social connections, stimulating cognitive function, and providing a creative outlet that enhances overall well-being.
Mature adults, those 60 and older, already face significant levels of depression, anxiety and loneliness. Some reports estimate that up to 10 percent of these individuals are depressed and possibly more than 5 percent experience anxiety.
WellWell has reported widely on how physical activity, hobbies and music improves the mental and physical health of older adults. Some studies have warned that isolation and anxiety can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, suicide, self-harm and dementia.
Queen Mary University of London now reports that group or shared creative activities are a health boon for these adults. The university’s research, a meta-analysis of 39 studies from 21 countries, ultimately indicates that group art activities may represent an efficient and cost-effective alternative to medications and talking therapies that may not always be available to these individuals.
The research team specifically found that group arts interventions reduced depression and anxiety. The positive impact, in fact, was comparable to traditional treatments for depression and anxiety such as taking anti-depressants, talking therapies or physical activity.
The results also noted that older adults in care homes saw a greater reduction in depression symptoms compared to those living in the community, highlighting the potential of these interventions to support some of the most vulnerable members of society.
The benefits were consistent across different types of art, painting, dancing or making music, and across diverse populations.
“Our findings show that group arts interventions are effective in reducing depression and anxiety among older adults. We think that there may be a synergistic effect, with the unique resources gained from groups, and the unique ingredients of arts activities working together to benefit mental health,” noted Dr. Janelle Jones, the study’s senior author.
The findings have far-reaching implications for how mental health care for older adults is treated, according to the researchers, adding their work provides concrete evidence that these types of interventions need to be taken seriously by healthcare providers and policymakers.
“Arts interventions are accessible, cost-effective and enjoyable,” Jones added. “They offer a way to address mental health challenges that don’t rely solely on medication or traditional therapy. This is particularly important for older adults, who may face barriers to accessing conventional treatments.”
