Danielle Stranieri

Thesis Name

Thesis Abstract

Arts engagement is increasingly recognised as a determinant of health and wellbeing, with growing evidence supporting its integration into community and healthcare systems (Fancourt & Finn, 2019). Post-COVID, arts engagement found renewed relevance as health systems adopt more holistic, person-centred models of care (Dow et al., 2023). However, disparity remains in access to the benefits of arts participation, particularly in regional, rural, and remote Queensland, where psychosocial and attitudinal barriers continue to constrain active engagement (Fancourt et al., 2020; Fancourt & Mak, 2020; Fluharty et al., 2021).

This study seeks to investigate the psychosocial factors influencing arts participation within non-metropolitan Queensland, examining variations across demographic groups. Findings will inform the development of a middle-range theory and framework for creating inclusive, evidence-based arts initiatives tailored to the specific needs of these communities.

A convergent mixed-methodological approach will be employed, underpinned by Straussian grounded theory (Corbin & Strauss, 2008), integrating both qualitative and quantitative data collection within a single online survey distributed throughout non-metropolitan Queensland. The survey will collect demographic data, participants’ arts engagement experiences, and attitudes towards arts activities, to be analysed through constant comparison and three-stage coding, with theory development enhanced by member checking and negative case analysis.

This study will directly benefit regional communities by informing strategies that promote greater arts participation, enhancing individual and collective wellbeing (Gotthardt et al., 2023). Indirectly, it will contribute to broader, evidence-based models for integrating the arts into healthcare and community services, addressing social isolation and broader health challenges.

Why My Research is Important/Impacts

This study is anticipated to generate significant direct and indirect impact across academic, policy, and community domains. It also aims to address a critical gap in arts and health literature, which has historically focused on outcomes rather than the mechanisms through which engagement is enabled or constrained. The primary contribution of this research will be through the development of an empirically grounded, middle-range theory explaining the impact of psychosocial mechanisms shaping arts participation in non-metropolitan Queensland contexts. In addition, a framework will be devised to inform behaviourally targeted intervention design. 

The findings will support community organisations to design participatory arts programs that are psychosocially inclusive and responsive to lived experience, thereby increasing engagement and associated wellbeing benefits  (Clarke et al., 2023; Gotthardt et al., 2023). For government stakeholders, the research offers a theoretically robust behavioural rationale for embedding arts participation within health, wellbeing, and social policy, strengthening the justification for sustained investment beyond the existing cultural or recreational scope. 

The study will also aim to advance the conceptual positioning of arts engagement as a behavioural determinant of health (Sonke, 2024), contributing original theory to the arts and health field and aligning Queensland-based research with international policy momentum led by the World Health Organisation (Dow et al., 2023). By providing the evidence to challenge existing perceptions of arts engagement, this research can act as a catalyst for increased participation, contributing to improved community cohesion, reduced loneliness, lowered anxiety, and decreased mortality risk  (Fancourt et al., 2020; Fancourt & Finn, 2019; Fluharty et al., 2021).