Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Arts and Sciences Department, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Lancet. 2022 Nov;400 Suppl 1:S63. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02273-5. Epub 2022 Nov 24.
Gender-based violence is an important public health issue that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Survivors often face barriers when seeking support for mental health and wellbeing and some find therapeutic value in creative arts. We aimed to explore how women with experiences of abuse used art during the pandemic to support mental health and wellbeing.
In two small, exploratory, qualitative studies, we conducted semi-structured online interviews with women aged 18 years or older, who had experienced gender-based violence, were currently safe from abuse, and were not living with someone who had been abusive. Women who were unable to speak, read, and understand study documentation in English were excluded. We recruited participants through our networks, third-sector services, and via social media. Interview questions asked participants about interest in the arts as a support tool for mental health after abuse and strategies used during the pandemic to support mental health or wellbeing. ARM analysed the dataset using reflexive thematic analysis using Nvivo.
We enrolled 20 women aged 24-61 years; 17 participants (85%) identified as White British. Interviews were conducted between April 16, 2021, and March 1, 2022. Participants reported using drawing, writing, singing, music, painting, and online art or craft groups to support their mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic. Participants said they were motivated at the start of the first UK lockdown to engage with creative arts as a way of practising mindfulness and self-reflection; providing calmness, escapism, and distraction; reducing boredom; and combating loneliness and social isolation. Although self-isolating, the social element of online art groups provided valuable opportunities for chat with others who shared similar lived experiences.
Creative arts provided a valuable resource for participants to self-manage their mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic. Connecting with others who had similar experiences of abuse supported coping and feelings of certainty. We conclude with a working example of how online platforms could provide avenues of support and community.
Wellcome Trust.
性别暴力是一个重要的公共卫生问题，COVID-19 大流行加剧了这一问题。幸存者在寻求心理健康和福祉支持时常常面临障碍，一些人在创意艺术中找到了治疗价值。我们旨在探讨在大流行期间，有过虐待经历的女性如何利用艺术来支持心理健康和福祉。
在两项小型探索性定性研究中，我们对年龄在 18 岁或以上、经历过性别暴力、目前安全无虐待、且未与施虐者同住的女性进行了半结构式在线访谈。那些不能用英语说、读和理解研究文件的女性被排除在外。我们通过我们的网络、第三方服务和社交媒体招募参与者。访谈问题询问了参与者在遭受虐待后，对将艺术作为支持心理健康的工具的兴趣，以及在大流行期间用于支持心理健康或福祉的策略。ARM 使用 Nvivo 对数据集进行了反思性主题分析。
我们招募了 20 名年龄在 24-61 岁之间的女性；17 名参与者（85%）自认为是白种英国人。访谈于 2021 年 4 月 16 日至 2022 年 3 月 1 日进行。参与者报告说，在大流行期间，他们使用绘画、写作、唱歌、音乐、绘画和在线艺术或手工艺团体来支持他们的心理健康和福祉。参与者表示，他们在英国第一次封锁开始时就有动力参与创意艺术，以此作为练习正念和自我反思的一种方式；提供平静、逃避现实和分心；减少无聊；以及对抗孤独和社会孤立。尽管自我隔离，但在线艺术团体的社交元素为与有类似生活经历的其他人聊天提供了宝贵的机会。
创意艺术为参与者在大流行期间自我管理心理健康和福祉提供了宝贵的资源。与有类似虐待经历的人交流有助于应对和增强确定性。我们以在线平台如何提供支持和社区途径为例进行了总结。
惠康信托基金会。
