Data from the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) suggests participation in cultural activities is as beneficial to health and longevity as avoiding smoking, maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, and staying physically active, according to research led by Professor Steinar Krokstad at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
The findings, stemming from analysis of HUNT data collected since 2006 when questions about cultural engagement were first included, reveal a significant correlation between active involvement in the arts – both as a creator and an audience member – and improved health outcomes, including reduced anxiety and depression, increased life satisfaction, and lower mortality rates. Bente Løkken’s doctoral research specifically demonstrated this lower mortality rate among those actively involved in cultural life.
Initially, integrating cultural factors into the HUNT study faced resistance. Krokstad noted that many medical professionals were focused on traditional risk factors and biological data, questioning the relevance of cultural participation. Conversely, within cultural circles, there was a reluctance to tie artistic value to measurable health effects, upholding the principle of art’s intrinsic worth. Still, the establishment of the National Competence Centre for Culture, Health and Care in Levanger, with HUNT as a partner, signaled a growing recognition of the interplay between these fields.
The HUNT3 and HUNT4 studies provided the foundation for these conclusions. Researchers have adjusted for other variables that could explain the observed health benefits, strengthening the argument for a direct link between cultural engagement and well-being. The impact extends to mental health, with participation in meaningful activities shown to even help prevent dementia.
These findings underpin the Norwegian public health campaign “ABC for good mental health”: “Do something active – Do something together – Do something meaningful.”
The research has also inspired artistic exploration of the HUNT data. Author Ingrid Storholmen’s award-winning and critically acclaimed book, Bloddråpetall (Blood Drop Numbers), delves into the human stories behind the statistics, questioning what people truly indicate when reporting their health status and exploring the impact of social connections on physical and mental well-being. Storholmen’s work has garnered unprecedented public engagement with a Norwegian health survey, and is now being adapted into a play at the Trøndelag Theatre.
With nearly 250,000 Trøndelag residents having participated in the HUNT study, the upcoming theatrical adaptation of Bloddråpetall is anticipated to draw significant audiences. Krokstad expressed his enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the inspiring nature of seeing decades of research translated into a novel artistic medium. Storholmen is currently working on a new book focusing on youth and their experiences within the HUNT framework.