Arts engagement and depression among Chinese emerging adults: Loneliness and self-esteem as mediators

As most studies on the influence of arts engagement on psychological well-being have been conducted among vulnerable populations, it is unclear whether the diverse positive impacts of arts engagement apply to the general population. We collected data from 1,007 undergraduate and graduate students at two universities in China and examined the mediating effects of loneliness and self-esteem on the association of participatory arts engagement and depression. The results showed that arts engagement was associated with a lower level of depression, with both loneliness and self-esteem mediating this link. Our findings add evidence to the diverse positive impacts of arts engagement for emerging adults. Implications for theory and practice, including the development of arts-based programs, are discussed.