Recovery through creativity
A study into lived experiences of participants in Dutch arts-based recovery initiatives
Dados Bibliográficos
| ID | 22073153 |
|---|---|
| Autores | Jenny Boumans (0000-0002-2980-5959, Trimbos Institute, autor correspondente), Arko Oderwald (Amsterdam University Medical Centers), Hans Kroon (0000-0002-2259-1628, Social Welfare Department) |
| Ano | 2026 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Páginas | 1764635-1764635 |
| Data de publicação | 2026-04-15 |
| Peer Reviewed | Sim |
| Open Access | Sim |
| Tipo | ARTICLE |
| Periódico | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Identificadores do periódico | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Editora | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1764635 |
| PMID | 42064885 |
| OpenAlex | W7154451128 |
| Idioma | EN |
| Referências citadas | 61 |
Introduction: It has been suggested that participatory arts-based activities inherently align with recovery-oriented way of working and may aid personal recovery in people with mental illness. However, underlying mechanisms need to be further clarified. The aim of this study is to contribute to more understanding on recovery through creativity by examining lived experiences in the context of arts-based recovery initiatives. Methods: In this qualitative, interpretive study, 26 participants from Dutch arts-based recovery initiatives were purposefully selected. Unstructured interviews were conducted and transcribed. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: Eight themes describe participants' lived experiences of personal recovery through creativity in the context of participatory arts initiatives. We grouped these into four metathemes that represent the underlying mechanisms of recovery through creativity: "Engaging in a conscious and constructive activity," "Transforming and transcending painful experiences," "Belonging in a creative community," and "Steps toward emancipation." A fifth metatheme, "Opposing forces," describes the processes that hinder a favorable relationship between creativity and personal recovery. Discussion: The research confirms that participatory arts initiatives align with the recovery philosophy, with both contextual and arts-related aspects playing a role in the perceived benefits of participating in such an initiative. The experience of beauty and a sense of wholeness as a counterbalance to experiences of psychological suffering offers a promising avenue for further research, as well as research leading to a better understanding of how opposing forces in the relationship between creativity and recovery can be (self-)managed
Citizen journalism · Constructive · Creativity · Lived experience · Reflexivity · The arts · Thematic analysis · Art Therapy and Mental Health · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Participatory Visual Research Methods
Recovery from mental illness
Qualitative research
Conceptual framework for personal recovery in mental health
Public art aesthetics and psychological healing
A worked example of Braun and Clarke’s approach to reflexive thematic analysis
“Painting to Find my Spirit”
Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis
Navigating in a value-driven practice
Evaluation of Arts based Courses within a UK Recovery College for People with Mental Health Challenges
Music Activities and Mental Health Recovery
Community arts, identity and recovery
Enhancing mental health recovery by joining arts-based groups
Removing the thorns”
Defining arts engagement for population-based health research
Creative writing as a means to recover from early psychosis– Experiences from a group intervention
The transformative potential of the arts in mental health recovery – an Irish research project
One size fits all? What counts as quality practice in (reflexive) thematic analysis
Evaluating the impact of participatory art projects for people with mental health needs
The Contribution of a Music and Arts Rehabilitation Program to the Creative Identity, Well-Being, and Community Integration of People With Mental Health Conditions
Art as an Agent of Wellbeing and Social −Participation for Mental Health
Art and Mental Health Recovery
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Developing the Creative Communities Framework for Living Well With Serious Mental Illness
How stigma interferes with mental health care
It's like having a day of freedom, a day off from being ill
Now I see it, now I don't
| Velocidade de citação | historical |
|---|---|
| Altamente citado | Não |