This week’s Annotated Bibliography entry comes from Stuckey, HL, and J Nobel, who explore the idea that human health – which they view as more than just the absence of illness – can be enhanced through the use of expressive arts. For the purposes of this blog post, I focus on the section that specifically explores expressive writing (pp. 259-261). You may view the full text here.
Annotated Bib Entry
Stuckey, HL, and J Nobel. “The Connection Between Art, Healing, And Public Health: A Review Of Current Literature.” American Journal Of Public Health 100.2 (2010): 254-263. CINAHL with Full Text. Web. 4 Mar. 2015.
This article offers a review of current literature on the relationship between the arts and healing. It includes a definition and overview of “holistic health” according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The authors use this literature review to illustrate “the connection between artistic engagement and the psychosocial and biological manifestations of that connection.”
According to the WHO definition, “holistic health” encompasses the individual’s total well-being, including social and mental as well as physical aspects. The literature discussed in this article is reviewed as a response to the chronic diseases that have become a burden to the nation. Stress and depression are linked to preventable illnesses such as heart disease. Creative pursuits including expressive writing can help decrease stress and depression, which may then decrease chronic illnesses, thus reducing the burden on the community. Continue reading “Annotated Bib: “The Connection between Art, Healing, And Public Health: A Review of Current Literature.””
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