Table 3

Overview of studies included in the review

StudyCountryStudy designComparator groupSettingPopulation (N)Stress outcome measuresType and content of artworkQuantity of artworks viewed by each participantDuration of artwork viewing
Clow and Fredhoi15UKPretest and post-test, within groups quasi-experimental studyNoneArt galleryOffice workers
n=28 (25 included in the analysis)
Power analysis not performed		Self-reported stress
Self-reported arousal
Salivary cortisol		Physical artworks in a gallery- exact content not specifiedNot specified- gallery exhibition35–40 min in the gallery
D’Cunha et al24AustraliaPre- and post-test, within groups quasi-experimental studyNoneArt galleryPeople living with dementia
n=28 (22 included in the analysis)
Power analysis not performed		Salivary cortisol interleukin-6Physical artworks in a gallery- exact content not specified3–4 artworks each session, over 5–6 sessions5–6×90 min sessions. Each artwork was viewed for 20 min
de Jong14NetherlandsBetween groups experimental studyLaboratory workers (non-art students)
Not randomised
Not blinded		LaboratoryAdvanced art history students, advanced fine arts students and laboratory workers
n=27
Power analysis not performed		Heart rate
Skin conductance
Respiration rate		Digital projections of 12 paintings considered ‘beautiful’ and 12 paintings considered ‘ugly’24Each painting was viewed for 10 s
Eisen et al10USAPretest and post-test, randomised controlled trialRoom with no artwork
Randomised
Not blinded		Hospital- patients’ roomPaediatric patients (aged 5–17)
n=78
Power analysis not performed		Self-reported stress
Heart rate
Blood pressure
Respiratory rate		One group had a representational nature artwork hung on the wall, whereas the other group had an abstract artwork hung on the wall12 hours
Karnik et al21USACross-sectional surveyNoneHospital- public spaces and clinic roomsHospital patients
n=826
Power analysis not performed		Self-reported change in stressPhysical collection of abstract and representational imagery (including nature imagery). Includes an assortment of artistic media; and a variety of subject matterCollection of over 5300 artworksN/A
Krauss et al16SwitzerlandRandomised controlled trialGroup received only descriptive information about the artwork (compared with elaborative information)
Randomised
Not blinded		Art museumGeneral public aged between 18 and 35
n=75
Power analysis performed		Heart rate
Heart rate variability
Skin conductance		Physical abstract paintings of Flemish expressionism6Not specified
Kweon et al22USABetween groups experimental studyNo artwork posters group
Randomised
Not blinded		Laboratory (replicated office setting)Psychology students
n=210
Power analysis not performed		Self-reported stressNature posters and abstract posters4Not specified
Law et al25New ZealandBetween groups experimental pilot studyScrambled artwork images
Randomised
Blinded		LaboratoryGeneral public
n=30
Power analysis not performed		Salivary cortisol
Salivary alpha-amylase		Digital slideshow of either landscape paintings or digitally scrambled versions of these paintings2630 min
Mastandrea et al17ItalyBetween groups experimental studyMuseum office
Randomised
Not blinded		Art museumUndergraduate students
n=77
Power analysis not performed		Blood pressure
Heart rate		Physical artworks in a gallery- including figurative artworks (eg, landscapes and portraits) and modern artworks (eg, abstract, impressionist and informal paintings)Not specified- gallery exhibition5 min
McCabe et al9IrelandRandomised prospective clinical trialRoom without the ‘Open Window’
Randomised
Not blinded		Hospital- patients’ roomStem cell transplantation patients
n=199 (164 included in the analysis)
Power analysis performed		Self-reported distressVirtual window, with artwork projections. Artwork collections ranged from visually complex abstract images to images of nature.Not specified- nine art ‘channels,’ each with a collection of artworksFor the duration of their hospital stay- times not specified
Pearson et al23USAPretest and post-test, between groups quasi-experimental studyRoom without a window mural
Randomised
Blinded		Hospital- patients’ roomPaediatric patients aged 2–18)
n=90
Power analysis not performed		Heart rate
Systolic blood pressure		Window mural- either aquatic or forest themed1Minimum of 48 hours
Siri et al18ItalyWithin groups experimental studyNoneArt museumGeneral public
n=60
Power analysis not performed		Heart rate
Heart rate variability		two real abstract contemporary paintings and their digitally produced replicates4144 s per artwork
Tschacher et al19SwitzerlandWithin groups quasi-experimental studyNoneArt museumMuseum visitors
n=517 (373 included in the analysis)
Power analysis not performed		Skin conductance
Heart rate
Heart rate variability		Physical modern and contemporary art exhibition76No specific timeframe given to participants. On average, they spent 28 min at the gallery.
Wikström et al20SwedenPretest and post-test randomised controlled trialGroup that were not shown artworks
Randomised
Not blinded		Senior citizen apartmentWomen aged over 70
n=40
Power analysis not performed		Systolic blood pressurePhysical pictures- ranging from artworks of nature, flowers and people, abstract patterns, white figures on black backgrounds and photographs.Not specified how many each participant viewedNot specified