Cultural attendance and mental and social health in South Korea

Using data from the 2023 National Culture and Arts Activity Survey, this study examines whether cultural attendance is associated with two self-rated outcomes: mental health, reflecting stress and depression, and social health, reflecting isolation and loneliness. Ordered logit estimates show that more frequent attendance is positively associated with both outcomes. The associations are stronger among low-income respondents. Performing arts and popular culture show the most consistent positive associations, whereas visual arts display a mixed pattern, including a positive association with social health among low-income respondents. Associations are also stronger among younger respondents and those aged 60 and above than among respondents in their 30s, 40s and 50s. A supplementary mediation analysis suggests that participation satisfaction is a plausible pathway linking overall attendance to both outcomes, especially among low-income respondents. Because the data are cross-sectional, the results should be interpreted as associations rather than causal effects. The findings support equity-oriented policies that broaden access to cultural participation.