“I now look forward to the future, by finding things from our past…”Exploring the potential of metal detector archaeology as a source of well-being and happiness for British Armed Forces veterans with mental health impairments

50-Year-old male war veteran and survey participant, suffering from PTSD and depression, on the effect of metal detecting

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21136025
AutoresAndres S Dobat (0000-0002-4452-6907, Aarhus University), Sultan Oruc Wood (Aarhus University), Bo Søndergaard Jensen (0000-0001-6706-3303, Clinic for PTSD and anxiety, Veteran Unit, Central Denmark Region, Århus N (DK), Denmark), Sören Schmidt (0000-0003-2618-746X, Hochschule Fresenius, University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg (D), Germany), Armin S Dobat (Dipl. Psych., Flensburg (D), Germany, autor correspondente)
Ano2020
Volume26
Fascículo4
Páginas370-386
Data de publicação2020-04-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Heritage Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1352-7258 • E-ISSN: 1470-3610
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13527258.2019.1639069
OpenAlexW2954098254
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas11
Referências citadas23

This article presents the results of a questionnaire-based survey of the perceived effects of metal detecting among British Armed Forces veterans with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and/or other diagnosed or undiagnosed psychological disorders. Although the qualitative analysis presented here is only a first step towards understanding its beneficial effects, the authors conclude that archaeological metal detecting can be regarded as having the potential to positively influence well-being and happiness for people suffering from mental health problems. The findings suggest that practitioners feel that metal detecting has a significantly positive and lasting effect on their health and well-being. A significant number of respondents feel that metal detecting has alleviated specific symptoms of their mental disorders (PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders). The key factors for the beneficial effect of metal detecting appear to be of a mental, sensory, physical and social nature. First and foremost, however, its beneficial effect seems to be deeply rooted in the fact that the participants interact with archaeological heritage

Archaeology · Art · Art history · Happiness · Political science · Art Therapy and Mental Health · History · Law · Noise Effects and Management · Urban Green Space and Health