The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between cultural access and individual psychological well-being, in order to provide a possible estimation of the impact of cultural participation upon subjective perceptions of well-being.

Using a cross-sectional survey of Italian residents and employing the TWIST methodology, this work suggests that culture has a relevant role as a determinant of individual psychological well-being, in that a selected subset of cultural variables turn out to perform among the best predictors of individual Psychological General Well-Being Index levels. The results also allow some preliminary considerations about innovative, well-being focused public health policies leveraging upon the human and social developmental role of culture.

In a second study, the authors show that, among the various potential factors considered, cultural access unexpectedly ranks as the second most important determinant of psychological well-being, immediately after the absence or presence of diseases, and outperforming factors such as job, age, income, civil status, education, place of living and other important factors.

About the speakers:

PierLuigi Sacco  - Professor of Cultural Economics, IULM University (Milan)

Enzo Grossi - Advisor Padiglione Italia EXPO 2015

The slides of the event

10h30-12h00, Bld. 36, amphitheater

For any further information please contact:

JRC Composite Indicators Research Group

jrc-coin@jrc.ec.europa.eu