PRELIMINARY RESULTS RELEASED IN GROUND-BREAKING STUDY:
"THE IMPACT OF PROFESSIONALLY CONDUCTED CULTURAL PROGRAMS ON OLDER ADULTS"

Research is beginning to document the positive impact that creativity can have on the health and well-being of older people. For example, in 1999, the largest study to ever be conducted on aging in the United States was published: Successful Aging. In this book, researchers Kahn and Rowe named involvement in social and recreational activities (including creative ones) as one of three key factors in "successful aging." In the same year, a study published in The British American Journal found that social and recreational activities decreased common causes of mortality and reduced morbidity as much as physical exercise (deLeon).

Until now, however, few studies have focused exclusively on creative activities. This year, the preliminary results were released for a ground-breaking research study entitled "The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programs on Older Adults." This NEA-sponsored study is the first national, longitudinal study of this kind, and is under the principal investigation of Dr. Gene Cohen (author of The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life ). Below is an overview of the study and a summary of the preliminary results:

Aim

The aim of this project is to evaluate the effects relevant to mental health, general health, overall functioning, and sense of well being on older persons caused by experiential cultural programs provided by professionals such as folk, visual, and literary artists. Such programs could focus on expressive arts (e.g., visual arts, dance, music, poetry, drama), material culture, and/or oral histories in a creative context.

Objectives

1. To evaluate the effects of these programs on the older participants regarding various quality of life and mental health measures. These include attention to the impact of these programs on depression, loneliness, morale, life satisfaction, and self perceptions of well-being, as well as mental health services utilization and psychotropic medication usage. Various rating scales are used in a before and after manner.
2. To evaluate the effects of these programs on the older participants regarding various general health and health care utilization measures. Such would include attention to the impact of these programs on the incidence, prevalence, and course of physical health problems; the frequency of doctor visits; utilization of medications—both prescription and over-the-counter; and self-perceptions of overall health.
3. To evaluate the effects of these programs on involvement of the older participants in other activities. Such would include work (full-time or part-time employment), volunteer activities, educational endeavors, hobbies, and social relationships.

Study Design in Brief

The study was initiated in the fall of 2001. Baseline measures were taken, with plans for yearly repeated measures, for two years. The overall Study planned for 150 in the Intervention Group (programs with professional artists) plus 150 in the control group for a total of 300 subjects. The median age of subjects in both the intervention group and the control group at the start of the Study was 80. Subjects were selected at three sites:

• Elders Share the Arts (ESTA); Brooklyn, New York
• Center for Elders and Youth in the Arts (CEYA); San Francisco, California
• The Levine School of Music; Washington, DC

Questionnaires have been administered in three domains: (1) General Health; (2) Mental Health; (3) Social Functioning. The questionnaires were administered face-to-face during a research assistant visit with the research subjects.

Expected Outcomes

It is anticipated that older persons participating in varied, structured creative arts programs conducted by professional artists will over a designated period of time show significant improvements among a variety of social, behavioral, mental health, general health, and quality of life measures, and that these positive changes will significantly exceed those of a control group of older persons not participating in such creative arts programs. The outcomes anticipated with the older participants are on the whole expected to reflect changes in the direction of promoting sustained if not enhanced societal functioning and independence.

Summary of Preliminary Results

The intervention group, in comparison to the control group, experienced:

• Significantly better overall health.
• Significantly fewer falls and less hip damage.
• Significantly few doctor's visits.
• Diminished use of medications.
• Diminished vision problems.
• Significantly better scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Loneliness Scale.
• Increased involvement in activities.

The final results of this study have not yet been released. If you have specific questions about the study, contact Dr. Gene Cohen, principal investigator.