Re-thinking arts engagement in COVID-19: findings from a hybrid-delivered participatory arts intervention for Singapore's older adults

• Main Author: Yam, Jodie
• Other Authors: Ho Hau Yan Andy
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
• Subjects: Social sciences::Psychology
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/157039
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Healthy ageing has become an urgent public health concern that has stimulated the search for accessible, meaningful engagement for the ageing population. The participatory arts (PA) have since been hailed as an effective instrument for healthy ageing, having demonstrated overwhelming efficacy in promoting health outcomes. However, there is dearth of research on the cross-cultural expansion of PA interventions, and the ability of hybrid-delivered PA interventions to retain efficacy in an era of great social-distancing. Through a randomised controlled trial design, the present study answers these research gaps by examining the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of a culturally-adapted, hybridised translation of an existing PA intervention to Singapore. Sixty-four older adults in Singapore, aged 60 to 80 years, were recruited to undergo the intervention and complete four rounds of quantitative assessments covering health condition, quality of life, and mental well-being over 12 weeks. Participants’ experiences in the intervention were also collected via a focus group discussion (N = 18). Kruskal-Wallis and paired difference tests revealed that older adults did not benefit statistically from the programme. However, thematic analysis with grounded theory approach on the qualitative data revealed that participants encountered both positive and negative experiences that affected PA engagement. These mechanisms were organised into the Driving-Dispelling Model of Participatory Arts Engagement and include themes of (1) Social Connectedness, (2) Self-Improvement Through Art-Journeying, (3) Occupation With Internal Disturbances, and (4) Dissonance With Online Participation. Implications on enhancing the cultural adaptation of PA interventions and minimising difficulties with the online modality are discussed.