There is growing evidence for the impact of arts engagement on later life cognition. However, confounding by socioeconomic factors may have led to an overestimation of this association. We analyzed data from 4,344 older adults in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. We measured participatory (e.g. painting, making music, crafts) and receptive (e.g.…

Creative art-based therapies (cABT) provide a creative non-pharmacological approach in therapy to people with dementia and can potentially improve their personhood. This review identified cABT that focused on the personhood of persons with dementia living in residential facilities and determined how quality of life (QOL) or well-being were…

This study presents the results of meta-analyses evaluating the effects of active theater on empathy and self-esteem. The effect size of the impact of theater-making on empathy showed that theater has a positive, although moderate influence on empathic abilities. The meta-analysis concerning self-esteem did not confirm the impact of active theater…

The work of actors involves realistically enacting the lives and personalities of fictional characters. Despite society's deep fascination with actors, there has been very little psychological research on actors' experience of acting. This review first considers how theater practitioners have viewed acting throughout history, and then examines…

Theater is a millenary art form that has stably maintained its minimum indispensable elements over the years. Yet, not much is known about the psychological impact of this performing art. A literature review shows a broad and sometimes contradictory spectrum of theoretical and empirical evidence. In the last few decades, however, interdisciplinary…

Alexithymia is characterized by deficits in the ability to identify, differentiate, and describe emotions--abilities that are of importance for social interactions, well-being, and, consequently, also for health. The aim of this study was to investigate whether achievements in cultural activities are associated with alexithymia. Participants from…