THE THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF FINE ART IN REDUCING STRESS AND EMOTIONAL FATIGUE: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Elochukwu Chioma Jacinta, Pollyn Jacinta, Onyeabor Hope, Amaku Genevieve Chinasa, Lawrence Chidera Daniel

Abstract


Abstract

Stress and emotional fatigue are increasingly pervasive in modern life, prompting a search for accessible, non-pharmacological ways to support mental health. One area of growing interest is engagement with fine art, whether through viewing or creating it. While research in this area is expanding, comprehensive overviews of the evidence are still relatively scarce.This narrative review explores the potential of fine art to alleviate stress and emotional fatigue. It brings together findings from experimental studies, healthcare outcome research, and neuroaesthetics published between 2015 and 2025. We conducted a critical review of 25 peer-reviewed experimental studies and eight systematic reviews, including research that examined visual art viewing or art-making interventions using validated measures of stress, anxiety, or emotional exhaustion.The evidence consistently points to the same conclusion: both simply viewing art and actively making it can meaningfully lower physiological stress markers and self-reported feelings of emotional fatigue. Several key mechanisms appear to be at work, including the induction of 'flow' states, deeper cognitive engagement, a calming effect on physiological stress responses, and the enriching quality of the environment itself. In healthcare settings, for instance, artworks depicting natural landscapes show particularly strong benefits, with roughly 61% to 73% of patients reporting better mood and less stress after viewing them. Interestingly, original artworks seem to trigger a more powerful therapeutic response than reproductions, hinting that an artwork's authenticity and depth may foster a stronger emotional connection.Overall, the findings suggest that engaging with fine art is not just a pleasant pastime but an accessible, evidence-based way to manage stress and combat emotional fatigue. Broadening the use of arts-based interventions in healthcare, workplaces, and communities could offer real psychological benefits, while also contributing to wider economic gains through lower healthcare costs and better productivity.

Keywords: therapeutic art, stress reduction, emotional exhaustion, neuroaesthetics, arts in health, burnout prevention


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