Creative Connections: A Social Prescribing & Arts Approach to Holistic Well-Being
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Category
Social Sciences/Humanities
Abstract/Artist Statement
Research points to the value of the arts in promoting wellness across the lifespan, while Social Prescribing initiatives—which allow health professionals to refer people to community resources— have been shown to improve patient functioning through increased access to social support (Magsamen, 2019; Chatterjee et al., 2018). Recognizing the essential role that social determinants play in lasting health, this project will focus on the development and implementation of Social Prescribing around the world, with a particular focus on connecting primary care patients with therapeutic museum experiences and other arts-based resources in their communities that increase feelings of belonging. The Indivisible Self—an evidence-based model of wellness—and Adlerian Individual Psychology both recognize that access to essentials and engagement in social activity are key factors that contribute to overall well-being, and Social Prescribing frameworks aim to address these areas that clinical drug prescriptions alone cannot fix (Gorenberg et al., 2023). Research will be conducted via the Learning Center at St. Patrick Hospital, in addition to an in-depth interview method with healthcare, arts, and museum professionals who have implemented Social Prescribing initiatives at their institutions. This research process will also examine ways that Missoula County can utilize Social Prescribing in tandem with therapeutic arts programming to ultimately make the arts more accessible and connective for patients in need.
Mentor Name
Emily Sallee
Personal Statement
Social isolation is a growing problem in the United States, with more than 1 in 3 adults reporting that they feel lonely (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). Studies have found that being socially isolated and lonely is tied to increased levels of psychological distress due to gaps in social support, with self-blame and self-devaluation also being notable correlates of loneliness (Menec et al., 2020). Additionally, numerous studies have also pointed to loneliness as a risk factor for many health challenges—including increased blood pressure, diminished immunity, and fragmented sleep—and chronic loneliness has been found to significantly increase a patient’s number of physician visits and health care costs (Cacioppo et al., 2014; Gerst-Emerson et al., 2015). Despite the data, the USA has yet to define a unified national approach to loneliness and physicians have not been advised on how to best assess for it (Hawkley, 2022). My research will focus on deciphering what characteristics have contributed to past successes in socially-prescribed arts programming in order to aid those suffering from loneliness and social isolation. Other potential benefits of this study will be an increased understanding of how Social Prescribing has been implemented nationally and internationally in healthcare settings in order to apply these findings to patient care here in Missoula County.
Creative Connections: A Social Prescribing & Arts Approach to Holistic Well-Being
UC 332
Research points to the value of the arts in promoting wellness across the lifespan, while Social Prescribing initiatives—which allow health professionals to refer people to community resources— have been shown to improve patient functioning through increased access to social support (Magsamen, 2019; Chatterjee et al., 2018). Recognizing the essential role that social determinants play in lasting health, this project will focus on the development and implementation of Social Prescribing around the world, with a particular focus on connecting primary care patients with therapeutic museum experiences and other arts-based resources in their communities that increase feelings of belonging. The Indivisible Self—an evidence-based model of wellness—and Adlerian Individual Psychology both recognize that access to essentials and engagement in social activity are key factors that contribute to overall well-being, and Social Prescribing frameworks aim to address these areas that clinical drug prescriptions alone cannot fix (Gorenberg et al., 2023). Research will be conducted via the Learning Center at St. Patrick Hospital, in addition to an in-depth interview method with healthcare, arts, and museum professionals who have implemented Social Prescribing initiatives at their institutions. This research process will also examine ways that Missoula County can utilize Social Prescribing in tandem with therapeutic arts programming to ultimately make the arts more accessible and connective for patients in need.