TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - "Participation is fun and empowering": a participatory approach to co-design a cultural art program for older chinese at risk of depression in Hong Kong
JO  - Innovation in aging
A1  - Liu, Tianyin
A1  - Chan, Rachel
A1  - Yeung, Crystal
A1  - Lee, Ling Cheun Bianca
A1  - Chan, Tristan Nga Chee
A1  - Welton, Keturah
A1  - Lum, Terry Yat-Sang
A1  - Wong, Gloria Hoi Yan
SP  - igad041
EP  - igad041
VL  - 7
IS  - 5
N2  - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Internalized ageism and stigma of mental illness may disempower older people and impede help-seeking among those at risk of depression. Arts are deemed enjoyable, stigma-free, and conducive to mental health, and a participatory approach can engage and empower potential service users. This study aimed to co-design a cultural art program and test its feasibility in empowering older Chinese people in Hong Kong and preventing depression. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Adopting a participatory approach and guided by the Knowledge-to-Action framework, we co-designed a 9-session group art program using Chinese calligraphy as the channel for gaining emotional awareness and facilitating expression. The iterative participatory co-design process engaged 10 older people, 3 researchers, 3 art therapists, and 2 social workers through multiple workshops and interviews. We tested the program's acceptability and feasibility in 15 community-dwelling older people at risk of depression (mean age = 71.6). Mixed methods were used, including pre- and postintervention questionnaires, observation, and focus groups. <br><br>RESULTS: Qualitative findings suggest the feasibility of the program, and quantitative findings indicated its effects in increasing empowerment (t(14) = 2.82, p <.05), but not in other mental health-related measurements. Participants reflected that active participation and learning new art skills were fun and empowering, arts enabled them to gain insight into and express deeper feelings, and groups with peers made them feel relatable and accepted. <br><br>DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Culturally appropriate participatory arts groups can effectively promote empowerment in older people, and future research should balance eliciting meaningful personal experiences and measurable changes.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2399-5300
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad041
ID  - ref1
ER  -