Material objects and psychological theory: A conceptual literature review

Museum activities in dementia care: Using visual analog scales to measure subjective wellbeing

“…A conceptual literature review of museum object handling has found this activity to be effective in achieving significant short-term increases in subjective wellbeing (Solway, Camic, Thomson, & Chatterjee, 2015). Object handling sessions comprise tactile, visual, and conversational exploration of authentic museum artifacts.…”

The health and well-being potential of museums and art galleries

“…Studies of museum object handling, for example, show significant benefits for a range of patients in hospitals and care homes by improving mental and physical functioning, providing a positive experience during the hospital stay, and improving patient-doctor/carer communication (Ander, Thomson, Blair, et al, 2013;Chatterjee, Vreeland, & Noble, 2009;Lanceley et al, 2012;Paddon et al, 2013;Solway, Camic, Thomson, & Chatterjee, 2015;Thomson & Chatterjee, 2014a, 2014bThomson et al, 2012aThomson et al, , 2012b. Specific population groups and issues that museums have sought to address include children on the autism spectrum (Dunn, 2013;Yale Center for British Art, 2015), learning disabilities (Sullivan, 2015), cancer patients (Thomson et al, 2012a) and severe mental health problems Colbert, Cooke, Camic, & Springham, 2013).…”

Arts, health & wellbeing: reflections on a national seminar series and building a UK research network

“…The first randomised controlled trial of community singing for a broad cross section of older people (60+) living independently has recently been completed (Coulton, Clift, Skingley, & Rodriguez, 2015; Skingley, Martin, & Clift, 2015). Engagement with visual arts and museum/gallery-based community research with young people, and working-age adults, older adults and those with dementia have all demonstrated benefits (Alcock, Camic, & Barker, 2011; Camic, 2008, 2010; Roberts & Camic, 2011; Solway, Camic, Thomson, & Chatterjee, 2015; Solway, Thomson, Camic, & Chatterjee, 2015; Young, Camic, & Tischler, 2015). Research with new mothers and older women has also explored life transitions and wellbeing though arts engagement (Hogan, 2015b; Hogan, Baker, Cornish, McCloskey, & Watts, 2015; Hogan & Warren, 2012, 2013).…”

“…Whilst evidence from evaluation research is accumulating, there has been far less attention to developing conceptual and theoretical frameworks for understanding the processes through which the arts may exert their benefits (Camic, 2010; Camic, Baker, & Tischler, 2015; Daykin et al, 2007; Solway et al, 2015). Theoretical perspectives may be constructed from a complex menu of the individual-focused disciplines of psychology, biology or neuroscience (Fancourt, Ockelford, & Belai, 2014; Stickley & Hoare, 2015); the more interactive and structural disciplines of sociology and anthropology (DeNora & Ansdell, 2014); the spatial and temporal disciplines of geography and history (Atkinson & Robson, 2012; Atkinson & Scott, 2015), or more contemplative elements in the humanities including philosophy and studies of the various art forms themselves such as literary studies, media studies and so forth.…”