Department of Health and Sports Sciences, The National Centre for Men's Health, South East Technological University, Kilkenny Road Campus, Kilkenny Road, Carlow R93 V960, Ireland.
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
Health Promot Int. 2023 Aug 1;38(4). doi: 10.1093/heapro/daad092.
Arts engagement is gaining recognition as a non-clinical approach to promote mental health and well-being. However, the perceived utility of the arts to promote mental health among men with low socioeconomic status (SES) and how to best engage them is underexplored. This study explores the lived experiences of men with low SES who engage with the arts in Northern Ireland (n = 41). Data collected via focus groups (n = 5) and interviews (n = 11) were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to inductively derive four themes. Theme 1 highlights how the arts facilitated friendship, a collective identity, peer support and a reason to socialize. Themes 2 and 3 explore how the arts enhanced self-esteem and emotional regulation by developing a routine, purpose, sense of mastery, a sense of catharsis through immersion in a soothing endeavour and an alternative outlet for self-expression. Theme 4 covers strategies that facilitate male engagement in the arts such as using a familiar space, delivering to an existing male group, framing the programme around male interests not health or creativity, building on existing strengths and capacities, enabling ownership, using tangible action-orientated activities, and being non-authoritative and flexible with delivery. This is one of the first studies to highlight the gendered dimensions in which men with low SES engage with and experience mental health benefits through arts engagement. This study points towards relevant theories to further understand the pathways between the arts and improved mental health among men which can inform development of tailored arts programmes for men.
艺术参与作为一种非临床方法，正在逐渐被认可为促进心理健康和幸福感的手段。然而，艺术在促进社会经济地位较低的男性心理健康方面的作用，以及如何最好地吸引他们参与艺术活动，这些问题仍然没有得到充分的研究。本研究探讨了北爱尔兰社会经济地位较低的男性参与艺术活动的生活体验（n=41）。通过焦点小组（n=5）和访谈（n=11）收集的数据，采用反思性主题分析方法进行分析，从而归纳出四个主题。主题 1 强调了艺术如何通过促进友谊、集体认同感、同伴支持和社交理由来促进心理健康。主题 2 和主题 3 探讨了艺术如何通过培养规律、目标、掌握感、通过沉浸在舒缓的努力中获得宣泄感、以及为自我表达提供替代出口，从而提高自尊心和情绪调节能力。主题 4 涵盖了促进男性参与艺术活动的策略，例如利用熟悉的空间、向现有的男性群体提供服务、围绕男性的兴趣而不是健康或创造力来规划项目、利用现有的优势和能力、赋予他们自主权、采用有形的行动导向活动、以及在交付过程中不专断和灵活。这是首批强调社会经济地位较低的男性通过艺术参与来体验和获得心理健康益处的性别维度的研究之一。本研究指出了相关理论，以进一步理解艺术与男性心理健康改善之间的关系，从而为男性量身定制艺术项目的发展提供信息。
