Cultural participation and individual quality of life: a review of research findings

Galloway, S. (2006) Cultural participation and individual quality of life: a review of research findings. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 1(3-4), pp. 323-342. (doi: 10.1007/s11482-007-9024-4)

Abstract

<b>Objectives</b>: to examine the research evidence for the contribution of cultural participation to individual quality of life; to discuss the utility of different types of QOL conceptualisation and measurement for cultural policy making. <b>Methods</b>: a literature review of English language publications over the decade from 1995. <b>Results</b>: there are few extant QOL studies, and very little empirical evidence to support the claims made by policymakers about culture and individual QOL. <b>Conclusions</b>: The article suggests that a multi-dimensional, rather than a global, conceptualisation of QOL is best suited to the cultural policymaking context. Securing findings generalisable across all cultural forms, project types and all individuals or populations is not an achievable goal. Methodologies need to be developed and tested to understand how and why cultural participation affects individual QOL domains and these need to take into account differences in types of cultural participation, the quality of the experience, and between individuals in different social circumstances and in different life stages.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Culture, arts, quality of life, measurement.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Galloway, Ms Susan
• Authors: Galloway, S.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General); H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > Theatre Film and TV Studies
• Research Group: Centre for Cultural Policy Research
• Journal Name: Applied Research in Quality of Life
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1871-2584
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2006 Springer
• First Published: First published in Applied Research in Quality of Life 1(3-4):232-242
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher