Visits to figurative art museums may lower blood pressure and stress

Abstract

Background The research aimed to assess, through physiological measurements such as blood pressure and heart rate, whether exposure to art museums and to different art styles (figurative vs. modern art) was able to enhance visitors’ well-being in terms of relaxing and stress reduction.

Method Participants (n = 77) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions, on the basis of the typology of the art style they were exposed to in the museum visit: (1) figurative art, (2) modern art and (3) museum office (as a control condition). Blood pressure and heart rate were measured before and after the visits.

Results Diastolic values of the participants were quite stable, as expected in people who do not suffer hypertension; we therefore considered only variations in systolic blood pressure. The majority of the participants exposed to figurative art significantly decreased systolic blood pressure compared to those exposed to modern art and museum office. No differences were found in the heart rate before and after the visit for the three groups.

Conclusion Findings suggest that museum visits can have health benefits, and figurative art may decrease systolic blood pressure.

Keywords:

• Restorativeness
• art museum
• figurative and modern art styles
• psycho-physiological measures
• blood pressure

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Director (Maria Vittoria Marini Clarelli) and the staff of the National Gallery of Modern Art of Rome, who enabled us to carry out the research in the museum. We thank the two reviewers for their most valuable comments on the manuscript.

Notes

1. Participants had to meet the following requirements: they must not be suffering of cardiovascular diseases (such as neurodegenerative disorders, etc.) and of arterial hypertension; they must not take any anti-hypertensive drug therapy. Other criteria to meet is that they should not use drugs and do not have to play sport at a competitive level since at least the last six months; moreover, no caffeine and smoking in the hour preceding the survey data; the women should not be pregnant or menstruating. Participants signed a statement that they met these criteria.