Arts participation has been linked to positive health outcomes around the globe. As more research is taking place on this topic, there is heightened need for definitions for the complex concepts involved. While significant work to define “arts participation” has taken place in the arts sector, less work has been undertaken for the purpose of researching the arts in public health. This study developed a definition for “arts participation” to guide a national arts in public health research agenda and to advance and make more inclusive previous work to define the term. A convergent mixed-methods study design with sequential elements was used to iteratively develop a definition that integrated the perspectives of field experts as well as the general public. Literature review was followed by four iterative phases of data collection, analysis, and integration, and a proposed definition was iteratively revised at each stage. The final definition includes modes, or ways, in which people engage with the arts, and includes examples of various art forms intended to frame arts participation broadly and inclusively. This definition has the potential to help advance the quality and precision of research aimed at evaluating relationships between arts participation and health, as well as outcomes of arts-based health programs and interventions in communities. With its more inclusive framing than previous definitions, it can also help guide the development of more inclusive search strategies for evidence synthesis in this rapidly growing arena and assist researchers in developing more effective survey questions and instruments.

More from our Archive

• DOI: 10.1177/15248399231169793 2023

  Characterizing Persons With HIV/HCV Coinfection Who Remain Untreated for Hepatitis C at Four HIV Clinics in Connecticut (CT): Role of Multiple Overlapping Barriers at the Individual and Clinic System Levels

  Alice Zhao, Maximilian Wegener, Ralph Brooks, Lena Mininberg, Elie Helou, Ashly Maughan, Merceditas Villanueva

• DOI: 10.1177/15248399231169792 2023

  Creating a Longitudinal HCV Care Cascade for Persons With HIV/HCV Coinfection in Selected HIV Clinics Using Data to Care Methods

  Ralph Brooks, Maximilian Wegener, Suzanne Speers, Lisa Nichols, Robert Sideleau, Tequetta Valeriano, Marianne Buchelli, Merceditas Villanueva

• DOI: 10.1177/15248399231169919 2023

  Future Directions for HIV/HCV Care: Lessons Learned From Local Evaluation Projects in Texas and Connecticut and Implications for Practice and Health Promotion

  Merceditas Villanueva

• DOI: 10.12968/jowc.2023.32.7.446 2023

  Human skin biofilm model: translational impact on swabbing and debridement

  Michael Dietrich, Manuela Besser, Eike S Debus, Ralf Smeets, Ewa K Stuermer

• DOI: 10.1177/15248399231183643 2023

  Advancing Inclusion of Transgender and Gender-Diverse Identities in Clinical Education: A Toolkit for Clinical Educators

  Whitney Linsenmeyer, Katie Heiden-Rootes, Theresa Drallmeier, Rabia Rahman, Emily Buxbaum, Willow Rosen, Beth Gombos, Ashton Otte

• DOI: 10.1177/21650799231184375 2023

  Relaxation Methods to Reduce Occupational Stress

  TaShana Williams-Southers

• DOI: 10.1177/21650799231180780 2023

  Tele-Assessment of Functional Capacity: Validity, Intra- and Inter-rater Reliability

  Yasemin Özel Aslıyüce, Aybüke Fanuscu, Abdurahim Aslıyüce, Özlem Ülger

• DOI: 10.1177/15248399231183388 2023

  Defining “Arts Participation” for Public Health Research

  Jill Sonke, Alexandra K. Rodriguez, Aaron Colverson, Seher Akram, Nicole Morgan, Donna Hancox, Caroline Wagner-Jacobson, Virginia Pesata

• DOI: 10.1177/10598405231184387 2023

  Competence and Stress of Medication Administration Practices for School Nurses in K-12 Taiwan Schools

  Hsing-Yi Yu, Chun-Hsia Huang, Li-Ling Liao, Hui-Ling Lin, Li-Chun Chang

• DOI: 10.12968/jowc.2023.32.sup7.s6 2023

  Wounds resulting from non-malignant haematological disease: a case series

  Richard Simman, Drew Oostra, Patrick Sullivan, Michael Wilson, Jude Khatib, Sarah E Jackson