Abstract
Cultural activities like playing an instrument, singing or participating in theatre can affect biological processes in the human body and have shown to have a positive health effect on patients. Previous studies from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), Norway, indicate that people who are culturally active experienced better self-reported health were more satisfied with their lives and experienced less anxiety and depression. A study performed on adolescents, 13 –19 years, found an association between participation in cultural activities that involved social interactions with others and good health, good life satisfaction and good self-esteem. Another study suggested that effects of cultural activities are different from the effect from participation in social activities on body fat distribution in adolescents.
The present study focuses on the association between engagement in performing music, singing and theatre with self-rated health (SRH) and all-cause mortality in the population. The main research question is whether people who actively engage in music, singing and theatre have better SRH and survive longer compared to those who do not participate in these activities on a regular basis. Secondarily, possible gender differences are explored. Data were obtained from the third Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3, 2006–2008) and all-cause mortality data from the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry 2006–2015. In total 50,807 participated (aged ≥20 years), with 41,198 returning questionnaires informing about the participants’ cultural activities. Self-reported creative participation in music, singing and theatre was correlated with self-perceived health and all-cause mortality. Preliminary results suggest that women not engaged in playing an instrument, singing or participating in theatre had an increased risk for having poor SRH compared to women who actively participated in such activities. Men not engaged in playing an instrument, singing or participating in theatre had increased risk of dying compared to men who actively participated. In summary, these findings suggest that participating frequently in music, singing and theatre appears to increase subjective SRH for women and reduce all-cause mortality for men. Stimulating such activities may have positive health effects in the population.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Aartsen, M., Veenstra, M., & Hansen, T. (2017). Social pathways to health: On the mediating role of the social network in the relation between socio-economic position and health. SSM – Population Health, 3, 419–426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2017.05.006.
Adler, N., & Ostrove, J. (1999). Socioeconomic status and health: What we know and what we don’t. Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 896, 3–15.
Adler, N. E., Boyce, W., Chesney, M. A., Folkman, S., & Syme, S. (1993). Socioeconomic inequalities in health: No easy solution. JAMA, 269(24), 3140–3145. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1993.03500240084031.
Bakken, I. J., Ellingsen, C. L., Pedersen, A. G., Leistad, L., Kinge, J. M., Ebbing, M., & Vollset, S. E. (2015). Comparison of data from the cause of death registry and the Norwegian patient register. Tidskr Nor Lægeforen, 135(21), 19439. https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.14.0847.
Bowling, A. (2005). Just one question: If one question works, why ask several? Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 59(5), 342–345.
Bygren, L. O., Konlaan, B., & Johansson, S. E. (1996). Attendance at cultural events, reading books or periodicals, and making music or singing in a choir as determinants for survival: Swedish interview survey of living conditions. BMJ, 313, 1577.
Chanda, M. L., & Levitin, D. J. (2013). The neurochemistry of music. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 17(4), 179–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2013.02.007.
Cuijpers, P., & Smit, F. (2002). Excess mortality in depression: A meta-analysis of community studies. Journal of Affective Disorders, 72(3), 227–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-0327(01)00413-X.
Cummins, R. A., Eckersley, R., Pallant, J., Van Vugt, J., & Misajon, R. (2003). Developing a national index of subjective wellbeing: The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index. Social Indicators Research, 64(2), 159–190. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024704320683.
Cuypers, K. F., Knudtsen, M. S., Sandgren, M., Krokstad, S., Wikström, B. M., & Theorell, T. (2011). Cultural activities and public health: Research in Norway and Sweden. An overview. Arts & Health, 3(1), 6–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2010.481288.
Cuypers, K., Krokstad, S., Lingaas Holmen, T., Skjei Knudtsen, M., Bygren, L. O., & Holmen, J. (2012). Patterns of receptive and creative cultural activities and their association with perceived health, anxiety, depression and satisfaction with life among adults: The HUNT study, Norway. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 66(8), 698. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2010.113571.
Davies, C., Rosenberg, M., Knuiman, M., Ferguson, R., Pikora, T., & Slatter, N. (2012). Defining arts engagement for population-based health research: Art forms, activities and level of engagement. Arts Health, 4, 203–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2012.656201.
Davies, C. R., Knuiman, M., Wright, P., & Rosenberg, M. (2014). The art of being healthy: A qualitative study to develop a thematic framework for understanding the relationship between health and the arts. BMJ Open, 4(4), e004790. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-004790.
Davies, C., Knuiman, M., & Rosenberg, M. (2016a). The art of being mentally healthy: A study to quantify the relationship between recreational arts engagement and mental well-being in the general population. BMC Public Health, 16(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2672-7.
Davies, C., Pescud, M., Anwar-McHenry, J., & Wright, P. (2016b). Arts, public health and the National Arts and health framework: A lexicon for health professionals. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 40(4), 304–306. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12545.
Daykin, N., Orme, J., Evans, D., Salmon, D., McEachran, M., & Brain, S. (2008). The impact of participation in performing arts on adolescent health and behaviour. Journal of Health Psychology, 13(2), 251–264. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105307086699.
Diba, D., & D’Oliveira, A. F. (2015). Community theater as social support for youth: Agents in the promotion of health. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 20(5), 1353. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015205.01542014.
Ekholm, O., Juel, K., & Bonde, L. O. (2016). Associations between daily musicking and health: Results from a nationwide survey in Denmark. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 44(7), 726–732. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494816664252.
Gold, C., Solli, H. P., Krüger, V., & Lie, S. A. (2009). Dose-response relationship in music therapy for people with serious mental disorders: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(3), 193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.01.001.
Gold, C., Assmus, J., Hjørnevik, K., Qvale, L. G., Brown, A. F. K., Waage, L., … Stige, B. (2014). Music therapy for prisoners: Pilot randomised controlled trial and implications for evaluating psychosocial interventions. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 58(12), 1520–1539. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X13498693
Grape, C., Sandgren, M., Hansson, L.-O., Ericson, M., & Theorell, T. (2002). Does singing promote well-being?: An empirical study of professional and amateur singers during a singing lesson. Integrative Physiological & Behavioral Science, 38(1), 65–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02734261.
Hansen, E., Sund, E., Knudtsen, M. S., Krokstad, S., & Holmen, T. L. (2015). Cultural activity participation and associations with self-perceived health, life-satisfaction and mental health: The young HUNT study, Norway. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1873-4.
Holmen, J., Midthjell, K., Kruger, O., Langhammer, A., Holmen, T., & Bratberg, G. H. (2003). The Nord-Trøndelag health study 1995–97 (HUNT2): Objectives, contents, methods and participation. Norwegian Journal of Epidemiology, 13, 19–32.
Holmen, J., Nguyen, C., Haapnes, O., Rangul, V., & Espnes, G. A. (2016). Kultur og helse i HUNT – En metodeevaluering. Norwegian Journal of Epidemiology, 26(1–2), 139–144.
Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Layton, J. B., & Brayne, C. (2010). Social relationships and mortality risk: A meta-analytic review (social relationships and mortality). PLoS Medicine, 7(7), e1000316. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316.
Huisman, M., & Deeg, D. J. H. (2010). A commentary on Marja Jylhä’s “what is self-rated health and why does it predict mortality? Towards a unified conceptual model”(69:3, 2009, 307–316). Social Science & Medicine, 70(5), 652–654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.11.003.
HUNT Research Centre. (2017a). HUNT databank, NTNU. Norwegian national registry from (HUNT). https://hunt-db.medisin.ntnu.no/hunt-db/#/instrument/229.
HUNT Research Centre. (2017b). Research. NTNU. Merging HUNT data with other Norwegian registry data. from NTNU http://www.ntnu.edu/hunt/merging-registries.
Hyyppä, M. T., Mäki, J., Impivaara, O., & Aromaa, A. (2006). Leisure participation predicts survival: A population-based study in Finland. Health Promotion International, 21(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dai027.
Johansson, S. E., Konlaan, B. B., & Bygren, L. O. (2001). Sustaining habits of attending cultural events and maintenance of health: A longitudinal study. Health Promotion International, 16(3), 229–234.
Jylhä, M. (2009). What is self-rated health and why does it predict mortality? Towards a unified conceptual model. Social Science & Medicine, 69(3), 307–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.05.013.
Knudtsen, M. S., Holmen, J., & Håpnes, O. (2005). Cultural approaches to treatment and public health work. Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række, 125(24), 3434.
Konlaan, B., Bygren, L., & Johansson, S. E. (2000). Visiting the cinema, concerts, museums or art exhibitions as determinants of survival: A Swedish fourteen-year cohort follow-up. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 28, 128–178.
Krieger, N. (2003). Genders, sexes, and health: What are the connections – and why does it matter? International Journal of Epidemiology, 32(4), 652–657.
Krokstad, S., & Westin, S. (2002). Health inequalities by socioeconomic status among men in the Nord-Trondelag health study, Norway. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 30(2), 113–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/14034940210133753.
Krokstad, S., Langhammer, A., Hveem, K., Holmen, T., Midthjell, K., Stene, T., … Holmen, J. (2012). Cohort Profile: The HUNT study, Norway. International Journal of Epidemiology, 42. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dys095.
Krokstad, S., Langhammer, A., Hveem, K., Holmen, T. L., Midthjell, K., Stene, T. R., … Holmen, J. (2013). Cohort Profile: The HUNT Study, Norway. International Journal of Epidemiology, 42(4), 968–977. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dys095
Krokstad, S., Ding, D., Grunseit, A. C., Sund, E. R., Holmen, T. L., Rangul, V., & Bauman, A. (2017). Multiple lifestyle behaviours and mortality, findings from a large population-based Norwegian cohort study – the HUNT Study.(Nord-Trøndelag Health Study)(Report). BMC Public Health, 17(1), 58. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3993-x.
Langhammer, A., Krokstad, S., Romundstad, P., Heggland, J., & Holmen, J. (2012). The HUNT study: Participation is associated with survival and depends on socioeconomic status, diseases and symptoms. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 12(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-12-143.
Li, S., Stampfer, M. J., Williams, D. R., & Vanderweele, T. J. (2016). Association of religious service attendance with mortality among women. JAMA Internal Medicine, 176(6), 777. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.1615.
Llovet, A. K. (2017). Meta-analysis of specific music therapy measures and their implications for the health care system. Health Care Management (Frederick), 36(1), 60–68. https://doi.org/10.1097/hcm.0000000000000135.
Lorber, J., & Moore, L. J. (2002). Women get sicker but men die quicker: Social epidemiology – in – gender and the social construction of illness. In J. Lorber & L. J. Moore (Eds.), Gender and the social construction of illness (2nd ed., pp. 13–36). Lanham: AltaMira.
Mæland, G., & Haugland, S. (2007). Det syke kjønn? Sykelighet blant kvinner og menn i Norge. In B. Schei & L. S. r. Bakketeig (Eds.), Kvinner lider – Menn dør. Folkehelse i et kjønnsperspektiv. (Vol. 1, pp. 69–87): Gyldendal Akademisk.
McEwen, B. S. (2006). Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators: Central role of the brain. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 8(4), 367–381.
McEwen, B. (2012). Brain on Stress: How the social environment gets under the skin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(Suppl2), 17180–17185.
Merom, D., Ding, D., & Stamatakis, E. (2016). Dancing participation and cardiovascular disease mortality. A pooled analysis of 11 population-based British cohorts. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 50(6), 756–760.
Nenonen, T., Kaikkonen, R., Murto, J., & Luoma, M.-L. (2014). Cultural services and activities: The association with self-rated health and quality of life. Arts & Health, 6(3), 235–253. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2014.897958.
Nummela, O., Sulander, T., Rahkonen, O., & Uutela, A. (2008). Associations of self-rated health with different forms of leisure activities among ageing people. International Journal of Public Health, 53(5), 227–235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-008-6117-2.
Raglio, A., Filippi, S., Bellandi, D., & Stramba-Badiale, M. (2014). Global music approach to persons with dementia: Evidence and practice. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 1669–1676.
Rieker, P. P., & Bird, C. E. (2005). Rethinking gender differences in health: Why we need to integrate social and biological perspectives. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60. Spec No.(2), 40–47.
Schou, M. B., Krokstad, S., & Westin, S. (2006). How is self-rated health associated with mortality? Tidsskrift for den Norske Lægeforening, 126(20), 2644–2647.
Theorell, T., Liljeholm-Johansson, Y., Bjork, H., & Ericson, M. (2007). Saliva testosterone and heart rate variability in the professional symphony orchestra after “public faintings” of an orchestra member. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 32(6), 660–668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.04.006.
Theorell, T., Osika, W., Leineweber, C., Magnusson Hanson, L., Bojner Horwitz, E., & Westerlund, H. (2013). Is cultural activity at work related to mental health in employees? International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 86(3), 281–288. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-012-0762-8.
Theorell, T. P., Lennartsson, A.-K., Mosing, M. A., & Ullén, F. (2014). Musical activity and emotional competence – a twin study. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 774. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00774.
Thiel, L. (2015). Leave the drama on the stage: The effect of cultural participation on health. SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research. Berlin. German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP). https://www.diw.de/documents/publikationen/73/diw_01.c.510133.de/diw_sp0767.pdf
Trainor, S., Delfabbro, P., Anderson, S., & Winefield, A. (2010). Leisure activities and adolescent psychological well-being. Journal of Adolescence, 33(1), 173–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2009.03.013.
Tuisku, K., Virtanen, M., De Bloom, J., & Kinnunen, U. (2016). Cultural leisure activities, recovery and work engagement among hospital employees. Industrial Health, 54(3), 254–262. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2015-0124.
Väänänen, A., Murray, M., Koskinen, A., Vahtera, J., Kouvonen, A., & Kivimäki, M. (2009). Engagement in cultural activities and cause-specific mortality: Prospective cohort study. Preventive Medicine, 49(2), 142–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2009.06.026.
Verghese, J., Lipton, R. B., Katz, M. J., Hall, C. B., Derby, C. A., Kuslansky, G., … Buschke, H. (2003). Leisure activities and the risk of dementia in the elderly. The New England Journal of Medicine, 348(25), 2508.
Wilkinson, R., & Marmot, M. (2003). Social determinants of health: the solid facts. 2nd edition. In R. Wilkinson & M. Marmot (Eds.). Europe.
Wilkinson, A. V., Waters, A. J., Bygren, L. O., & Tarlov, A. R. (2007). Are variations in rates of attending cultural activities associated with population health in the United States? BMC Public Health, 7, 226–226. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-7-226.
Windsor, J. (2005). Your health and the arts: A study of the association between arts engagement and health. London: Arts Council England.
Acknowledgement
The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (The HUNT Study) is a collaboration between HUNT Research Centre, (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology), Nord-Trøndelag County Council, Central Norway Health Authority and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Løkken, B.I., Rangul, V., Merom, D., Ekholm, O., Krokstad, S., Sund, E.R. (2018). Are Playing Instruments, Singing or Participating in Theatre Good for Population Health? Associations with Self-Rated Health and All-Cause Mortality in the HUNT3 Study (2006–2008), Norway. In: Bonde, L., Theorell, T. (eds) Music and Public Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76240-1_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76240-1_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-76239-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-76240-1
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)