From Integrative Medicine (IM) point of view, a variety of medical treatments have been found [1]. Authors have been managing several managements of Integrative Medicine Japan (IMJ), shikoku island division for long [2]. We have involved in music therapy, calligraphy, medical research and related therapeutic measures [3]. In this article, recent topics concerning arts, music and crafts have been described.

Activities for arts, crafts, culture and sport have been developed for improving well-being and mental health in clinical populations. As a matter of fact, these activities can contribute solving psychological issues and enhancing subjective well-being (SWB) [4]. Consequently, engagement with these activities will lead to beneficial well-being for public interest [5]. satisfactory In contrast, it is not apparent whether these activities may bring the reduction of loneliness. For reducing loneliness, mindfulness measure is evaluated to be clinically effective [6]. For art activities and mindfulness, some similarity has been present, including motivation for creative activities, focusing attention to the task, and changing unwanted thoughts to pleasant feelings. Then, such series of activities can be applied for facilitating mindfulness [7].

The activities of music, dance, yoga and hiking have been studied from empirical point of view. They are integrated to usual life style and can enhance the compliance associated with preventive behaviors to their lives [8]. These phenomena can become the center of empirically daily physical experience beyond theoretical health concept. On the other hand, related paradigm has been bio-psycho-social aspects, that has been basically crucial perspectives in medical research and practice. Consequently, human habits may lead to long-term memory and embodiment lifestyle for long in the light of philosophical anthropology.

For improving well-being and refraining from loneliness, recommended measure would be Creating Arts and Crafting (CAC) [9]. It includes various activities, such as painting, drawing, pottery, sewing, knitting and crochet. Some TV programs in United Kingdom are popular, and about 20% UK population seems to be engaged in crafts and arts. From economic point of view, the industry of arts and crafts may contribute £3.4 billion to UK and may be estimated to $51 billion in the world by 2024.

In previous study, sociodemographic variables were known to be related to subjective well-being (SWB) and also loneliness feeling in the light of age, gender health, employment situation and deprivation level [9]. For example, decreased well-being or increased loneliness were associated with unemployment, bad health, and high deprivation [10]. For reported tendency, the prevalence of loneliness has been increased with aging, and also with subjective well-being for U-shaped curve status in higher income countries [11]. SWB has been measured using four single questions, and it can been evaluated by the scales from 0 to 10 by certain guidance method [12]. These factors include 4 well-known items, which are life satisfaction, happiness, anxiety, and life being worthwhile. In addition to these 4 factors, the fifth item would be loneliness which would be negative factor.

Arts and crafting activities can be beneficial for increasing SWB, that is beyond the age, gender, health, employment situation [9]. Higher SWB can indicate longevity, health, and some evidence of positive efficacy on certain illnesses. Some causal evidence was shown for beneficial influence SWB on longevity and health. As a whole, the contribution to SWB can be measured by happiness, life satisfaction and life being worthwhile, that will give a meaningful influence to our human society.

From previous reports, high degree of life satisfaction and meaningful life were associated with increased SWB and decreased loneliness [13]. The gender difference was not always related with life satisfaction, where the results were equivocal [14]. In the light of art therapy, creative works are usually associated with increased self-esteem and emotional regulation, and give a means of authentic self-expression [15]. From various investigations, the engagement in several art therapy would contribute the reduction of depression, anxiety, and stress [16], as well as the improvement of life satisfaction, well-being and social connection [17]. Regarding the content of art, there are cases of crafts such as knitting. In the case of women, it would be evaluated as a good hobby. In the case of men, however, certain prejudice may be present where it is further different from usual situation. Then, such caution would be required [18].

For decade, well-being has attracted attention worldwide for growing demand from people in need [19]. Well-being shows the degree of psychological positive situation, associated with life satisfaction and emotionally feeling well. Higher positive well-being sensation has been associated with various outcomes, such as higher educational career [20]. Furthermore, it is involved in physical health behaviors, outcomes and decreased mortality [21]. On the other hand, loneliness would be a negative experience for the person as the results of some deficits in the satisfactory social connection. It usually related with unsatisfactory quality of life (QOL), health behaviors or outcomes, in which eating disorders, obesity, smoking, depression or substance misuse or stressful events [22].

A variety of music experiences have been present for patients with dementia/MCI and their caregivers, which include music therapy session, concerts, choirs, singing groups and so on. For this information, the distinction and differences would be necessary to patients, caregivers, and health practitioners, in order to ensure the comprehensive approach to adequate care [23]. Then, phenomenological investigation seems to be required for Public and Patients Involvement (PPI). When selecting an applicable music experience, actually convenient information should be provided to people with dementia/MCI and caregivers in the community. The relationship between frequencies of art engagement and mortality was investigated for 14 years. Community adults (n=6710, 65.9 years) were studied for frequencies of arts engagement a year and their mortality [24]. As a result, people with 1-2 mal/year showed lower risk (hazard ratio, HR 0.86) compared with those of no visit. People with visiting every few months showed HR 0.69. Consequently, receptive arts engagement shows protective effect for longevity in elderly.

In summary, several impressive reports were introduced for beneficial information in the light of IM. These trials bring novel perspectives with the combination of ordinary care. Future development will be expected for human health and happiness.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding

There was no funding received for this paper.

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