Biopsychosocial characteristics associated with engagement in art making among older adults.
Kyung Soo Kim, Kristine L Kwekkeboom, Tonya Roberts and 1 others
PMID 33839591WHAT IT FOUND
Among 731 older adults, engagement in art making was linked to female sex, higher education, extraversion, openness to experience, and a positive attitude toward the arts.
Biological factors like age, chronic health conditions, and physical function were not associated with participation.
Key findings
01Engagement in any art making activity was significantly associated with extraversion, openness to experience, positive attitude toward the arts, larger social network, female sex, and higher education.
02Biological and physical characteristics, including age, chronic health conditions, and physical function, were not associated with engagement in art making, contradicting the study's primary hypothesis.
03Specific art types showed distinct associations: visual arts with female sex and education, performing arts with extraversion, media arts with male sex and education, and creative writing with education.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot determine if these characteristics cause engagement or if engaging in art influences these traits. Cognitive function and transportation variables were excluded from the analysis due to high rates of missing data (76.1% and 53.8% respectively). The sample included adults aged 50 and older, which is younger than the conventional definition of 'older adults' (65+), potentially limiting generalizability to the frail elderly. Art activities were grouped into four broad categories, preventing analysis of specific forms like drawing versus painting.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The HRS is supported by the National Institute on Aging and the Social Security Administration.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that older adults with physical disabilities or chronic conditions are unlikely to engage in art making. This study found no association between biological/physical factors and engagement, suggesting that barriers may be more psychological or social than physical.