Stress Relief Through Art: Not as Simple as It Seems
A recent study suggests that visiting an art gallery can reduce stress, but a local resident disputes this finding. According to Dr Tony Wood of King's College London, the research shows that viewing original artworks has a positive impact on wellbeing.
However, Peter Lowe argues that the study was not designed to isolate the effects of the artwork itself versus the environment in which it is viewed. In order to determine whether stress levels are genuinely reduced by viewing original artworks, further research would be needed. Specifically, participants would need to be observed in different settings, such as a gallery or at home, while viewing either the same paintings.
It's worth noting that Lowe and his friend Douglas offer an alternative explanation for how visiting an art gallery might reduce stress. In addition to viewing the artwork itself, they point out that the experience often involves socializing with others over food and drink, which can also have a positive impact on mental health. As Alex Dickie notes from Edinburgh, "the coffee and bacon rolls beforehand and the couple of pints afterwards should also be taken into consideration."
A recent study suggests that visiting an art gallery can reduce stress, but a local resident disputes this finding. According to Dr Tony Wood of King's College London, the research shows that viewing original artworks has a positive impact on wellbeing.
However, Peter Lowe argues that the study was not designed to isolate the effects of the artwork itself versus the environment in which it is viewed. In order to determine whether stress levels are genuinely reduced by viewing original artworks, further research would be needed. Specifically, participants would need to be observed in different settings, such as a gallery or at home, while viewing either the same paintings.
It's worth noting that Lowe and his friend Douglas offer an alternative explanation for how visiting an art gallery might reduce stress. In addition to viewing the artwork itself, they point out that the experience often involves socializing with others over food and drink, which can also have a positive impact on mental health. As Alex Dickie notes from Edinburgh, "the coffee and bacon rolls beforehand and the couple of pints afterwards should also be taken into consideration."
the more i read about this study, the more skeptical i get about it... it seems like they're oversimplifying the whole stress relief thing. what if viewing art in a gallery is all about socializing and ambiance? what if it's not just the art itself that's doing the trick? 
and what about all the people who can't afford to go to an art gallery or experience the "social" side of it... does that mean they won't benefit from stress relief? 
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The study says view original artworks and your stress levels drop, but what if that's just because you're sipping coffee in a gallery, surrounded by interesting people 
? Did the study control for that factor? Maybe we need to look at this from a different angle... like comparing art galleries to museums, or concerts, or even just going for a walk outside 
. And let's not forget about the social aspect - I mean, who doesn't love a good coffee and bacon roll 
? According to that one guy Peter Lowe, we need more research to figure this out... but what if the answer is simple? We just need to make time for our mental health, you know? 
. We should definitely look into further research to tease apart the different factors at play here. Perhaps we can even design studies that control for these variables more effectively? That would give us a clearer picture of how art specifically contributes to stress relief 
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just read about this study that said looking at art galleries reduces stress... nope not buying it 
. I mean what if you're just stressed 'cause your coffee is cold or something? 
they didn't even consider the environment where people were watching the art. what if it's just socializing with others that's doing the trick, not the art itself? 
Not exactly the most relaxing experience, right? The study needs to get more nuanced if we're gonna say that art is actually reducing stress levels. 
. Maybe the art is actually having a direct impact on our mental health or something... who knows?
. And hey, even if it's not just the art itself that's doing the trick, I'm happy to take any excuse to get out of the house and socialize with friends 
. We need more research, not less, before we start jumping on the art therapy bandwagon. 
️! But you're right, though, we need more research to figure out if it's actually the art itself that's doing the stress-reducing thing 
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. And let's be real, if you're gonna be stressed, a pint or two afterwards isn't gonna hurt, right? 
. I swear, that little furball has a personal vendetta against indoor decor. Anyway, back to art galleries... have you ever noticed how some of those modern installations are basically just a bunch of stuff thrown together on a wall? Like, what's the point of all that... stuff? 
art therapy is just an excuse to get drunk and eat bacon rolls 
[GIF: a person holding a glass of wine with a painting in the background]