Art-based interventions and art therapy to promote health of migrant populations - a systematic literature review of current research.

Background: This review aims to identify and analyse studies on art-based interventions and art therapy that are intended to promote better physical, mental and social health outcomes in culturally and linguistically diverse migrant populations.

Method: A systematic literature review was used to address the following questions: 1) What published studies over the past five years examined health outcomes? 2) What are the identifying characteristics of the studies? 3) What kinds of effect did these studies describe? 4) What implications do the findings have for future research in this field?

Results: Art-based interventions and art therapy can significantly reduce traumatic stress symptoms and anxiety, enhance well-being by giving people greater life satisfaction and hope, and improve the social behaviour of children and adolescents.

Conclusion: In order to address humanitarian concerns in this field, researchers may apply innovative approaches to engage people from a refugee background in meaningful reflections on their lives.