INVENT has published a new article in Poetics, co-authored by Marc Verboord, Larissa Fritsch, Neta Yodovich, Alysa Karels, Lucas Page de Pereira, and Eva Myrczik. This research note examines how cultural participation influences affective well-being in everyday life using a novel methodological approach—Experience Sampling Methodology (ESM). The potential of culture to enhance well-being has long been studied, with cultural activities linked to experiences that promote feelings of liberation, engagement, and confidence, which in turn lead to positive emotions. However, previous studies have limitations, such as an inability to establish causal relationships or being confined to laboratory settings or specific cases. To address these gaps, the INVENT researchers employed ESM, a diary-based survey method that captures what people do, feel, and think in real-time during their daily lives. Over 270 respondents completed up to 28 mini-questionnaires over the course of a week, creating a semi-experimental design that allows for comparisons between moments of participation and non-participation. The results demonstrate a significant positive impact of cultural participation on well-being, even when controlling for location, social context, and individual background characteristics.
The article is available in Open Access and can be found here.
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No