Exploring the relationship between culture and wellbeing

This research used a range of methods, including a scoping review of literature, and statistical analysis approaches which included a latent class analysis of National Survey for Wales data.

Main findings

The findings of this report add to the evidence that access to arts, culture and heritage is highly dependent on intersecting socio-economic factors such as: tenure, employment, health and disability. This research also reflects prior evidence that people living in poverty have far poorer well-being.

The creation of a typology suggests that there is a pattern of engagement with culture that is, in part, determined by socio-economic disadvantage.

• Group 1, the largest group, have a higher socio-economic position and are well engaged with culture. However, the remaining three groups are less engaged.
• Group 2 have no clear barriers to culture, arts and heritage but stated they were not interested in engaging.
• Group 3, face a range or barriers from a lack of transport, to a lack of funds, which stop them from engaging.
• Group 4 face clear health related barriers to their engagement with the arts, culture and heritage.

Overall, this research found that attending or participating in a wide range of cultural activities plays a role in predicting if someone will report high well-being. Respondents who attended or participated in cultural activities were 23% more likely to report high life satisfaction. This was the case even when other necessary explanatory factors were taken into consideration.