Contribution of visual art-making to the subjective well-being of women living with cancer: A qualitative study

Abstract

This qualitative study examined accounts of women diagnosed with cancer who engaged regularly in art as a leisure activity. The purpose of the study was to explore participants' views about the contribution of art-making to their subjective well-being in the context of living with cancer. The study was based on the principles of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). A convenience sample of 12 women aged between 23 and 74 years participated in semi-structured interviews, and their accounts were analysed thematically. Participants described a range of ongoing difficulties associated with cancer such as fear for the future, pain, sleeplessness, role loss, activity restriction, reduced self-confidence and altered social relationships. They described art-making as supporting subjective well-being in four major ways. Creative activities helped participants to focus outwards on positive life experiences relieving debilitating preoccupation with illness. Art-making enhanced self-worth and identity through providing opportunities to demonstrate continuity, challenge and achievement. It also enabled participants to maintain a social identity that resisted definition by cancer. For a minority, art enabled symbolic expression of feelings, especially during chemotherapy. The findings supplement previous case studies and suggest that meaningful creative activity may provide psychosocial resources for living with cancer. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.