The DOI matches its Crossref record; 24 of the 24 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The effects of participating in creative activities on the health and well-being of children and young people: a rapid review of the literature
Open accessAbstract
AIMS: Health-promoting strategies need to be culturally appropriate to encourage healthy behaviours and lifestyle choices in children and young people. This rapid review explores the effects of participating in creative activities on the health and well-being of children aged between 11 and 18 years. METHODS: Building on an earlier systematic review undertaken by Daykin and colleagues(1) a rapid review of the literature published between 2004 and 2011 was undertaken. The search was conducted systematically and included research on music, dance, singing, drama and visual arts, taking place in community settings or as extracurricular activities in mainstream schools. Therapies such as art, drama and music were excluded from the review. RESULTS: Following rigorous application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 20 papers were included in the review: six quantitative, eight qualitative and six mixed-method approaches. The interventions used in the studies were diverse and the research was heterogeneous, therefore overall synthesis of the results was inappropriate. The review is therefore organised into the following headings: sexual health, obesity, mental health and emotional well-being. Despite the methodological weakness and limitations of the majority of the studies there were some consistencies in their findings. It was found that participating in creative activities can have a positive effect on behavioural changes, self-confidence, self-esteem, levels of knowledge and physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Although the research evidence is generally weak there is some evidence that using creative activities as part of a health-promoting strategy may be a useful method of increasing knowledge and positive behaviours in children and young people.
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“Several studies examined the impact of various types of organized sport and non-sport activities on aspects of child and adolescent mental health. These suggest a possible beneficial impact on mental health such as behavioral outcomes, self-esteem and self-confidence”
From Impact of organized activities on mental health in children and adolescents: An umbrella review (2022) · cites this paper as Bungay and Vella-Burrows, 2013
In the citing paper
“Several systematic reviews also support a connection between childhood arts participation more generally and well-being.”
From Promoting general well-being, self-knowledge and addressing oppression: a qualitative study of children’s dance participation (2025) · cites this paper as Bungay & Vella-Burrows, 2013
In the citing paper
“Evidence from 20 studies evaluating community-based creative activities (including music, dance, singing, drama, and visual arts) suggests some positive effect on behavioral changes, self-confidence, self-esteem, levels of knowledge, and physical activity [30].”
From Interventions for Adolescent Mental Health: An Overview of Systematic Reviews (2016) · cites this paper as [30]
In the citing paper
“The interventions used in the studies were diverse, and the research was heterogeneous, and hence overall synthesis of the results was not attempted.”
From Interventions for Adolescent Mental Health: An Overview of Systematic Reviews (2016) · cites this paper as [30]
Citations
Cites
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Petticrew, M., & Roberts, H. (2006) · doi:10.1002/9780470754887 · Cited by 3,586
Systematic reviews: CRD's guidance for undertaking reviews in health care
Tacconelli, E. (2010) · The Lancet Infectious Diseases · doi:10.1016/s1473-3099(10)70065-7 · Cited by 3,270
Marmot, M. G., & Bell, R. (2012) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2012.05.014 · Cited by 1,179
The Impact of Participation in Performing Arts on Adolescent Health and Behaviour
Daykin, N., Orme, J., Evans, D., Salmon, D., McEachran, M., & Brain, S. (2008) · Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1177/1359105307086699 · Cited by 175
Young Citizens as Health Agents: Use of Drama in Promoting Community Efficacy for HIV/AIDS
Kamo, N., Carlson, M., Brennan, R. T., & Earls, F. J. (2008) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.2007.113704 · Cited by 78
Community-based Arts Program for Youth in Low-Income Communities: A Multi-Method Evaluation
Wright, R., John, L., Alaggia, R., & Sheel, J. (2006) · Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal · doi:10.1007/s10560-006-0079-0 · Cited by 59
A music-based HIV prevention intervention for urban adolescents.
Lemieux, A. F., Fisher, J. D., & Felicia Pratto, B. (2008) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/0278-6133.27.3.349 · Cited by 54
The ‘Voices’ Project: Capacity-Building in Community Development for Youth at Risk
Bradley, B. S., Deighton, J., & Selby, J. (2004) · Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1177/1359105304040887 · Cited by 47
Dancing beyond exercise: young people's experiences in dance classes
Gardner, S. M., Komesaroff, P. A., & Fensham, R. (2008) · Journal of Youth Studies · doi:10.1080/13676260802393294 · Cited by 35
Jackson, C. J., Mullis, R. M., & Hughes, M. (2010) · Progress in community health partnerships · doi:10.1353/cpr.0.0115 · Cited by 29
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Catterall JE, 1999, Involvement in the Arts and Human Development: General Involvement in Music, Theatre, Arts
- Quin E, 2007, Education and Health, 25, 31
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A scoping review of rapid review methods
Tricco, A. C., Antony, J., Zarin, W., Strifler, L., Ghassemi, M., Ivory, J., Perrier, L., Hutton, B., Moher, D., & Straus, S. E. (2015) · BMC Medicine · doi:10.1186/s12916-015-0465-6 · Cited by 1,146
Interventions for Adolescent Mental Health: An Overview of Systematic Reviews
Das, J. K., Salam, R. A., Lassi, Z. S., Khan, M. N., Mahmood, W., Patel, V., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2016) · Journal of Adolescent Health · doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.06.020 · Cited by 528
Promoting wellbeing and health through active participation in music and dance: a systematic review
Sheppard, A., & Broughton, M. C. (2020) · International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being · doi:10.1080/17482631.2020.1732526 · Cited by 206
Kelly, S., Moher, D., & Clifford, T. (2016) · Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1186/s13643-016-0258-9 · Cited by 152
When children play, they feel better: organized activity participation and health in adolescents
Baďura, P., Gecková, A. M., Sigmundová, D., van Dijk, J. P., & Reijneveld, S. A. (2015) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2427-5 · Cited by 151
Metadata
- Authors
- Bungay, H., & Vella-Burrows, T.
- Affiliations
- Anglia Ruskin University (GB)
- Assistant Director Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health University Centre Folkestone Mill Bay Folkestone Kent
- Corresponding author
- Vella-Burrows, Trish
- Venue
- Perspectives in Public Health
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-01
- Volume
- 133
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 44-52
- ISSN
- 1757-9139 (ISSN-L)
- 1757-9147
- OpenAlex
- W2164686321
- Cited by
- 217
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 151.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- figshare.com
- Locations
- Perspectives in Public Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Anglia Ruskin Research Online (Anglia Ruskin University) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Art Therapy and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Youth Development and Social Support
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Visual Arts and Performing Arts › Diversity and Impact of Dance
- Keywords
- creative activity, children and young people, health promotion, sexual health, obesity, mental health, emotional well-being, dance, drama, visual arts, extracurricular activities, self-esteem, self-confidence, physical activity, health knowledge, behavior change
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Art, Child, Creativity, Health Promotion, Health Status, Humans, Mental Health, Obesity, Risk-Taking, Sexual Behavior, Health Behavior
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