Engagement with arts and humanities can offer unique ways for us to address and manage stress.
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June & July 2023
HUMANITIES AND HUMAN FLOURISHING NEWSLETTER
Advancing the understanding, assessment, and cultivation of well-being by means of a deep and sustained collaboration between the arts, humanities, and social sciences
Stressed Out? Try Arts and Culture for Relief.
Whether we like it or not, stress is an inevitable, unavoidable part of being human that, left unmanaged, can negatively impact health and quality of life. Fortunately, engagement with arts and humanities can offer unique ways for us to address and manage stress. Whether it's getting lost in a beautiful melody or being absorbed by an intriguing painting, these profound moments of engagement with the arts and humanities can serve as gateways to deep emotions, reducing stress and contributing to overall wellbeing. The stress-reducing power of art is not merely a subjective experience—it's a phenomenon that is now being validated by scientific research.
Consider a comprehensive study led by De Witte and colleagues (2020). This research, involving over 9,000 people from various walks of life, discovered that the act of listening to music can significantly reduce physiological and psychological stress. Think about how the calming effect of a song can slow a racing heart, lower high blood pressure, and provide a sense of peace.
The stress benefits aren't limited to music alone. Research by Mastandrea et al. (2019) found that the act of visiting art museums, particularly those featuring engaging figurative art, can lead to a measurable decrease in blood pressure. So, when the burden of stress mounts, why not plan a visit to a local art museum or, if one isn’t accessible, explore the digital connections of larger, world-renowned institutions like The Louvre or The Met? The beauty and tranquility of the artwork can sooth and restore us.
Similarly, Karnik et al. (2014) studied how varied and thoughtful art collections in hospitals can significantly improve patient experiences, lifting moods and reducing stress levels. Perhaps in the future we will transform hospitals from sterile, clinical environments into comfortable spaces abounding with artistic inspiration.
These findings show that music and art are more than just mere distractions. They are, in fact, scientifically validated tools for reduction of stress and the promotion of wellbeing. So, the next time life's pressures start to mount, consider immersing yourself in a soothing piece of music or losing yourself in the rich detail of a captivating work of art.
What stresses you out? We invite you to reflect on those regular, unavoidable sources of stress in your life and to then consider how the arts and humanities might enable you to better navigate them. In preparation for the next time you experience stress, can you:
- Create a playlist of songs that ground you?
- Curate a virtual collection of visual art or bookmark passages or poems from beloved works of literature that bring you peace and calm?
- Fill a box with your favorite art-making supplies and some pre-established prompts to inspire you in a time of overwhelm?
By coming up with a plan for the next time you feel stress, you can more easily and seamlessly engage in arts and culture to help you alleviate it.
Stress and the Arts in Research
A recent study by Fallon and colleagues (2020) shows that listening to music following a stressful event can be an effective way of reducing our stress, including our physiological reactions to stress.
Stress and the Arts in Practice
In a recent collaboration with Studio in a School NYC, Bronx students' sunflower paintings were exhibited at Montefiore’s Gallery of ARTful Medicine. This vibrant display served as a therapeutic intervention, bringing visual comfort and stress reduction to patients within the Montefiore health system.
HHF News
The Humanities and Human Flourishing Project will be presenting a symposium entitled “The Positive Humanities: Examining the Role of Arts and Culture in Human Flourishing” at the IPPA World Congress in Vancouver, Canada on Saturday, July 22 from 2:30 to 3:30pm – we welcome you to join us if you will be attending the conference.
James presented on our work as part of a working meeting sponsored by Humanity 2.0 held at the Angelicum in Rome on June 14 and 15. The goal of the meeting was to advance a framework for human flourishing that can be used for research, philanthropy, and a range of applications including business and technology.
On June 12 and 13, James and Katherine were presenters at a meeting to kick off the BACH Research Center at Gabriele D’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, an interdepartmental initiative focused on biobehavioral arts and culture for health, sustainability, and social cohesion.
Upcoming Events
The HHF Colloquium Series will resume at the start of the Fall 2023 semester. Until then, check out recordings of some of our previous colloquia as well as interviews with editors of the newly published HHF Series.
This newsletter was created by Andrew Trousdale, Katherine Cotter, Sarah Sidoti, and James Pawelski.
