Daisy Fancourt|Andrew Steptoe
Cultural engagement and mental health: Does socio-economic status explain the association?
University College London|University College London
growing body literature suggesting arts support mental health however arts participation cultural engagement unevenly patterned across population strong social gradient social gradient also evident mental health remains unclear whether relationship arts engagement mental health fact explained socioeconomic status ses study explores question specifically relation cultural engagement eg visiting museumsgalleriescinematheatreconcerts using data 8780 adults aged 50 english longitudinal study ageing used statistical triangulation approach running three separate sets analyses different strengths address different statistical limitations biases using logistic regression relationship cultural engagement mental health still present including covariates relating ses evidence moderation ses either inclusion interaction terms stratification using propensity score matching matching participants based ses also consistently found evidence relationship finally using fixedeffects regression takes account timeinvariant factors include multiple aspects ses even unobserved also found attenuation relationship overall confirms previous reports cultural engagement linked lower odds depression amongst adults aged 50 demonstrating robust association nationallyrepresentative sample older adults ses explain around half association cultural engagement depression found evidence either acts moderator main explanatory factor independent associations maintained across three approaches however fact higher ses associated frequent engagement indicates population terms ses still important determinant salutogenic impact culture