Perceived Effects of Improv on Psychological Wellbeing: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT

Early studies suggest improvisational theater (when combined with psychotherapeutic elements) may be an effective tool for addressing mental health. Despite this preliminary evidence, and some experimental studies, there has been no in-depth empirical exploration of the experience of psychological processes influenced by improv without additional explicitly psychotherapeutic content. We interviewed participants (n = 9) with at least two years’ experience of improvised theater using a semi-structured interview schedule. Using thematic analysis, we generated 3 themes: Improv’s values and activities support growth in improvisers’ outlook; Improv contributes to a change in the nature of focus of attention; and The internal effects of improv have external consequences. We discuss how these findings suggest that improv may be beneficial for mental health, and that the processes identified in this study may play a part in treatments incorporating improv. The values, activities and relational aspects of improv and psychotherapy, in particular, are highlighted.

KEYWORDS:

• Qualitative research
• improvised theater
• wellbeing
• creative arts
• improv
• mental health
• creativity in counseling

Acknowledgments

We show gratitude to all participants of this study.