Daykin et al. - The role of social capital in participatory arts for wellbeing
Daykin, N., Mansfield, L., Meads, C., Gray, K., Golding, A., Tomlinson, A., & Victor, C. (2021). The role of social capital in participatory arts for wellbeing: findings from a qualitative systematic review. Arts & Health, 13(2): 134-157.
Social capital is an often-mentioned factor influencing the effects of participatory arts. However, its systematic exploration in the context of the arts, health, and well-being needs improvement. Broader research on health inequalities has revealed complex, varied, and, occasionally, negative impacts of social capital. This paper maps social capital concepts in qualitative research as part of the UK What Works for Well-being evidence review program on culture, sport, and well-being.
Many studies highlight the positive influences of bonding social capital, with some noting the effects of mostly horizontal bridging social capital to a lesser extent. However, the challenges reported in these studies indicate the importance of adopting a critical perspective. Instances of linking social capital that use participatory arts to foster vertical bridging to resist oppression and successfully challenge dominant power and control structures deserve further scrutiny. Future participatory arts and well-being research should focus on defining the various dimensions of social capital and exploring their nuanced impacts in the context of arts, health, and well-being.
Daykin et al. “The role of social capital in participatory arts for wellbeing: findings from a qualitative systematic review”