Young people engaging with arts and culture online experience improvements in mental health, according to a study from researchers at the University of Oxford.

In a collaborative study between the University’s Department of Psychiatry, Oxford Internet Institute and Ashmolean Museum, researchers examined the impact of online arts and culture on depression and anxiety in people aged between 16 and 24.

As part of the scheme, participants were asked to take part in an online experience, Ways of Being, which offered access to a variety of real-life stories behind arts and artefacts from the Ashmolean and partner museums.

Meanwhile, other participants were asked to explore the regular Ashmolean website.

Notably, researchers said that participants in both trial groups reported an overall reduction in psychological distress at the end of the study.

Similarly, in both groups, 24% fewer people also reported “clinically significant distress” within six weeks.

Recommended

• Leader Insights | Using tech to ease the bereavement process
• Scots Gov announces independent review of skills system
• Amazon, Microsoft and Google face UK cloud dominance probe

Dr Rebecca J Syed Sheriff, the lead author of the study, said the project underlines the benefits of online arts and culture among young people living with mental health issues.

She explained: “Our analysis shows online arts and culture can positively impact young people’s mental health.

“These results offer an intriguing indication that enriching the online experience with enhanced and diverse content may help to reduce mental health symptoms and/or protect against the evolution of a mental disorder and associated poor outcomes in young people.”

Dr Sheriff added: “They also suggest online arts and culture has potential as an intervention for young people with mental health needs as an alternative, or addition to conventional mental health services.”

Under-represented groups

During the study, researchers found that being able to access a more diverse pool of content through the ‘Ways of Being’ platform was helpful for specific groups, including ethnic minorities and young men.

Co-author Professor Andy Przybylski from the Oxford Internet Institute said the study shows that engagement with online arts and culture offers the “potential to reach vulnerable groups…especially young people, many of whom are reluctant to seek help”.

Co-author Helen Adams from Oxford’s Gardens, Libraries and Museums added: “Young people are typically under-represented among arts and culture audiences, so this study provided crucial lessons for how the sector might tailor its approach and content to improve both engagement and mental health outcomes for users, now and in the future.”

Get the latest news from DIGIT direct to your inbox

Our newsletter covers the latest technology and IT news from Scotland and beyond, as well as in-depth features and exclusive interviews with leading figures and rising stars.

To subscribe, click here.