Culture Nature Health Research Group: Publications

Journal articles

Thomson, L.J., Hume, V., Critten, A. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2025). Common features of environmentally and socially engaged community programmes addressing the intersecting challenges of planetary and human health: mixed methods analysis of survey and interview evidence from creative health practitioners. Frontiers in Public Health: Planetary Health, 13(1449317). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1449317  

Karkou, V., Sacco, L., Pelowski, M., Theofanopoulou, C., Carr, C., Huet, V., Bourne, J., Dowlen, R. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2025). Comment on 'Can arts-based interventions improve health? A conceptual and methodological critique' by Skov and Nadal - A critique of the critique: Towards a more nuanced evaluation of current research on the health outcomes of arts-based interventions, Physics of Life Reviews, 54, 147–151.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plrev.2025.07.015

Moustakas, A., Thomson, L.J., Mughal, R. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2024) Effects of community assets on major health conditions in England: A Data analytic approach. Healthcare, 

12(16), 1608. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12161608

Thomson, L.J. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2024) Barriers and enablers of integrated care in the UK: A rapid evidence review of review articles and grey literature 2018-2022. Frontiers in Public Health, 11(1286479). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1286479

Thomson, L.J., Waterson, H. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2024) Successes and challenges of partnership working to tackle health inequalities using collaborative approaches to community-based research: mixed methods analysis of focus group evidence. International Journal for Equity in Health, 23(135). 

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02216-1

Thomson, L.J., Spiro, N., Williamon, A. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2023) The impact of culture-, health- and nature-based engagement on mitigating the adverse effects of public health restrictions on wellbeing, social connectedness and loneliness during COVID-19: Quantitative evidence from a smaller- and larger-scale UK survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(20), 6943. 

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20206943

Thomson, L.J., Elsden, E., & Chatterjee, H.J. (2023). Volunteering for wellbeing: Improving access and social inclusion by increasing the diversity of museum volunteer training for public-facing roles. Museum and Society, 21(1), 12–30. https://doi.org/10.29311/mas.v21i1.3786

Gorenberg, J., Tierney, S., Wong, G., Turk, A., Libert, S., Potter, C., Eccles, K., Forster, S., Husk, K., Chatterjee, H.J., Webster, E., McDougall, B., Warburton, H., Shaw, L., & Mahtani, K.R. (2023). Understanding and improving older people’s well-being through social prescribing involving the cultural sector: Interviews from a realist evaluation. Journal of Applied Gerontology. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648231154043

Morse, N., Thomson, L.J., Elsden, E., Rogers, H. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2023). Exploring the potential of creative museum-led activities to support stroke in-patient rehabilitation and wellbeing: A pilot mixed-methods study. Arts & Health: An International Journal of Research, Policy and Practice, 15(2), 135–152. 

https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2022.2032224

Mughal, R., Thomson, L.J. Daykin, N. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2022). Rapid evidence review of community engagement and resources in the UK during the COVID-19 Pandemic: How can community assets redress health inequalities? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 4086–104. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074086

Tierney, S., Libert, S., Gorenberg, J., Wong, G., Turk, A., Husk, K., Chatterjee, H.J. et al. (2022). Tailoring cultural offers to meet the needs of older people during uncertain times: A rapid realist review. BMC Medicine, 20(260), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-022-02464-4

Turk, A., Tierney, S., Wong, G., Todd, J., Chatterjee, H.J. & Mahtani, K.R. (2022). Self-growth, wellbeing and volunteering – Implications for social prescribing: A qualitative study. SSM – Qualitative Research in Health, 2(100061), 1–8. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2022.100061

Tierney, S., Potter, C., Eccles, K., Akinyemi, O., Gorenberg, J., Libert, S., Wong, G., Turk, A., Husk, K., Chatterjee, H.J. et al. (2022). Social prescribing for older people and the role of the cultural sector during the COVID-19 pandemic: What are link workers' views and experiences? Health & Social Care in the Community, 00, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13949

Thomson, L.J., Gordon-Nesbitt, R., Elsden, E. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2021). The role of cultural, community and natural assets in addressing societal and structural health inequalities in the UK: Future research priorities. BMC International Journal for Equity in Health, 20(249), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-021-01590-4

Bungay, H., Chatterjee, H.J. & Hogan, S. (2021). Arts, creativity and health. Guest Editorial. Public Health, 200, 47–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2021.09.017

Koebner, I.J., Chatterjee, H.J., Tancredi, D.J., Witt, C.M., Gosdin, M., Rawal, R., Weinberg, G. & Meyers, F.J. (2021). Developing a framework for arts in health programs targeting individuals with chronic pain: A mixed-methods study of practitioners. Public Health, 197, 68–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2021.05.032

Fancourt, D., Bhui, K., Chatterjee, H.J., Crawford, P., Crossick, G., DeNora, T., & South, J. (2021). Social, cultural and community engagement and mental health: Cross-disciplinary, co-produced research agenda. British Journal of Psychology Open, 7(1), E3. 

https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2020.133

Fairbrass, A.J., Chatterjee, H.J., Jones, K.E. & Osborn, D. (2020). Human responses to nature- and culture-based non-clinical interventions: A systematised review. Perspectives in Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913920967036

Koebner, I., Chatterjee, H., Tancredi, D., Witt, C., Sacco, P., Rawal, R., & Meyers, F. (2020). Museum and arts-space programming intended to improve health: Interim survey results. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 4(S1), 88–88. 

https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2020.276

Thomson, L.J., Morse, N., Elsden, E. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2020). Art, nature and mental health: Assessing the biopsychosocial effects of a ‘creative green prescription’ museum programme involving horticulture, artmaking and collections. Perspectives in Public Health, 10(11), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913920910443 

Morse, N., Thomson, L.J. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2020). The role of co-production methods in developing an observational tool in health research for people living with dementia. Sage Research Methods Cases: Medicine and Health, Jan, 1–13. 

https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781529710632

Clini, C., Thomson, L.J. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2019). Assessing the impact of artistic and cultural activities on the health and well-being of forcibly displaced people using participatory action research. BMJ Open, 9(2). 

http://bmjopen.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/bmjopen-2018-025465

Thomson, L.J., Lockyer, B., Camic, P.M. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2018). Effects of a museum-based social prescription intervention on quantitative measures of psychological wellbeing in older adults. Perspectives in Public Health, 138(1), 28–38. 

https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913917737563

Chatterjee, H.J., Camic, P.M., Lockyer, B. & Thomson, L.J. (2017). Non-clinical community interventions: A systematised review of social prescribing schemes. Arts & Health: An International Journal of Research, Policy and Practice, 10(2), 93–123. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2017.1334002

Chatterjee, H.J., Polley, M. & Clayton, G. (2017). Social Prescribing: Community-based referrals in public health: Perspectives in Public Health. 138(1), 18–19. 

https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913917736661

Morse, N. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2017). Museums, health and wellbeing research: Co-developing a new observational method for people with dementia in hospital contexts. Perspectives in Public Health, 138(3), 152–159. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1757913917737588

Morse, N., Lockyer, B., Thomson, L.J., Camic, P.M. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2017). Collaboration in Museums and Health Research. BMJ Open, 7(2), A1–A14. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016492.24

Todd, C., Camic, P.M., Lockyer, B., Thomson, L.J. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2017). Museum-based programmes for socially isolated older adults: Understanding what works. Health & Place, 48, 47-55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2017.08.005

Thomson, L.J. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2016). Wellbeing with Objects: Evaluating a museum object-handling intervention for older adults in health care settings. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 35(3), 349–362. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0733464814558267

Solway, R., Camic, P.M., Thomson, L.J. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2016). Material objects and psychological theory: A conceptual literature review. Arts & Health: An International Journal of Research, Policy and Practice, 8(1), 82–101. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2014.998010

Chatterjee, H.J. & Camic, P.M. (2015). The health and wellbeing potential of museums and art galleries. Arts & Health: An International Journal of Research, Policy and Practice, 7(3), 183–186. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2015.1065594

Thomson, L.J. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2015). Measuring the impact of museum activities on wellbeing: Developing the Museum Wellbeing Measures Toolkit. Journal of Museum Management and Curatorship. 30(1), 44–62. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09647775.2015.1008390

Morse, N., Thomson, L.J., Brown, Z. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2015). Effects of creative museum outreach sessions on measures of confidence, sociability and well-being for mental health and addiction recovery service-users. Arts & Health: An International Journal of Research, Policy and Practice, 7(3), 231–246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2015.1061570

Solway, R., Thomson, L.J., Camic, P.M. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2015). Museum object handling in older adult mental health inpatient care. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 17(4), 201–214.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14623730.2015.1035520

Thomson, L.J. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2014). Assessing well-being outcomes for arts and heritage activities: Development of a Museum Well-being Measures Toolkit. Journal of Applied Arts & Health, 5(1), 29–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/jaah.5.1.29_1

Napier, A.D., Ancarno, C., Butler, B., Calabrese, J., Chater, A., Chatterjee, H.J., Guesnet, F., Horne, R., Jacyna, S., Jadhav, S., Macdonald, A., Neuendorf, A., Parkhurst, A., Reynolds, R., Scambler, G., Shamdasani, S., Zafer Smith, S., Stougaard-Nielsen, J., Thomson, L.J., Tyler, N., Volkmann, A-M., Walker, T., Watson, J., Williams, A., Willott, C., Wilson, J. & Woolf, K. (2014). Culture and health. The Lancet, 384(9954), 1607–1639. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61603-2

Ander, E.E., Thomson, L.J., Blair, K., Lanceley, A., Menon, U. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2013). Using museum objects to improve wellbeing in psychiatric and rehabilitation patients. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(5), 208–216. 

https://doi.org/10.4276/030802213X13679275042645

Ander, E.E., Thomson, L.J., Noble, G. Lanceley, A., Menon, U. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2013). Heritage, health and wellbeing: Assessing the impact of a heritage focused intervention on health and wellbeing. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 19(3), 229–242. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2011.651740

Camic, P.M. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2013). Museums and art galleries as partners for public health interventions. Perspectives in Public Health, 133(1), 66–71. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1757913912468523 

Paddon, H., Thomson, L., Lanceley, A., Menon, U. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2013). Mixed methods evaluation of wellbeing benefits derived from a heritage-in-health intervention with hospital patients. Arts & Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, 6(1), 24–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2013.800987

Vogelpoel, N., Lewis-Holmes, B., Thomson, L.J. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2013). Touching Heritage: Community health and wellbeing promotion through sustainable and inclusive volunteer programming in the museums’ sector. International Journal of the Inclusive Museum, 6(1), 109–119. http://ijz.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.177/prod.256

Thomson, L.J., Ander, E.E., Menon, U., Lanceley, A. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2012a). Quantitative evidence for wellbeing benefits from a heritage-in-health intervention with hospital patients. International Journal of Art Therapy, 17(2), 63–79. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17454832.2012.687750

Thomson, L.J., Ander, E.E., Lanceley, A., Menon, U. and Chatterjee, H.J. (2012b). Enhancing cancer patient well-being with a nonpharmacological, heritage-focused intervention. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 44(5), 731–740. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2011.10.026

Ander, E.E., Thomson, L.J., Lanceley, A., Menon, U., Noble, G. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2012). Heritage, health and wellbeing: Assessing the impact of a heritage focused intervention on health and wellbeing. International Journal of Heritage Studies, (19)3, 229–242. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2011.651740

Thomson, L.J., Ander, E.E., Menon, U., Lanceley, A. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2011). Evaluating the therapeutic effects of museum object handling with hospital patients: A review and initial trial of wellbeing measures. Journal of Applied Arts and Health, 2(1), 37–56. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/jaah.2.1.37_1

Ander, E.E., Thomson, L.J., Lanceley, A., Menon, U., Noble, G. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2011). Generic Wellbeing Outcomes: Towards a conceptual framework for wellbeing outcomes in museums. Museum Management and Curatorship, 26(3), 237–259. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09647775.2011.58579

Books and Book Chapters

Mughal, R., Thomson, L.J. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2024). How can community assets redress health inequities? The pandemic and beyond. In K. Gray & V. Tischler (Eds.), Creative approaches to wellbeing, 15–41, Ch. 2, Manchester: Manchester University Press. https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526172600.00002

Jury, H. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2023) Museums and the wellBeing of university students during Covid-19 "Something that meant something to me". In K.F. Latham & B. Cowan (Eds.), Flourishing in Museums: Towards a positive museology. London: Routledge.

Morse, M., Brown, Z., Mitchell, S., Charlton, J., Thompson, J. & Chatterjee, H. (2023). Dementia access in museums and galleries. In C. Russell, K. Gray & J. Twigg (Eds.), Leisure and Everyday Life with Dementia, 155–170, New York: McGraw Hill.

Thomson, L.J. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2022). Heritage, Creativity, and Wellbeing: Approaches for Evaluating the Impact of Cultural Participation: Using the UCL Museum Wellbeing Measures. In P. Everill & K.Burnell (Eds), Archaeology, Heritage, and Wellbeing: Authentic, powerful, and therapeutic engagement with the past, Ch. 4, Abingdon: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Archaeology-Heritage-and-Wellbeing-Authentic-Powerful-and-Therapeutic/Everill-Burnell/p/book/9781032021652

Kador, T. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2021). Object-Based Learning and Well-Being: Exploring material connections. Abingdon: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Object-Based-Learning-and-Well-Being-Exploring-Material-Connections/Kador-Chatterjee/p/book/9781138388048

Kador, T., Chatterjee, H.J. & Thomson, L.J. (2021). The role of museums, collections, and objects in supporting higher education student mental well-being and quality of learning. In T. Kador & H.J. Chatterjee (Eds.), Object-Based Learning and Well-Being: Exploring material connections, Ch. 7, Abingdon: Routledge. 

Chatterjee, H.J., Clini. C., Butler, B., Al-Nammari, F., Al-Asir, R. & Katona, C. (2020). Exploring the psychosocial impact of cultural interventions with displaced people. In E. Fiddian-Qasmiyeh (Ed.) Refuge in a Moving World: Tracing refugee and migrant journeys across disciplines. London: UCL Press.

Kador, T., Chatterjee, H.J. & Hannan, L. (2017). The materials of life: Making meaning through object-based learning in twenty-first century higher education. In B. Carnell & D. Fung (Eds.), Developing the Higher Education Curriculum: Research-Based Education in UCL Practice, 60–74, London: UCL Press.

Kador, T., Hannan, L. Nyhan, J., Terras, M, Chatterjee, H.J. & Carnall, M. (2018), Object-based learning and research-based education: Case studies from the UCL curricula. In J.P. Davies & N. Pachler (Eds.), Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Perspectives from UCL, 157–176, London: UCL Institute of Education Press.

Chatterjee, H.J. & Noble, G. (2016). Museums, Health and Wellbeing, Reprint. Abingdon: Routledge.

Chatterjee, H.J. & Noble, G. (2013). Museums, Health and Wellbeing. Farnham: Ashgate.

Chatterjee, H. J. (2015). Museums and galleries as settings for public health interventions. In S. Clift, P. Camic (Eds.), Oxford Textbook of Creative Arts, Health, and Wellbeing International Perspectives on Practice, Policy and Research. USA: Oxford University Press.

Chatterjee, H.J. & Hannan, L. (2015). Engaging the Senses: Object-based learning in Higher Education. Farnham: Ashgate.

Chatterjee, H.J., Hannah, L. & Thomson, L.J. (2015). An introduction to object-based learning and multisensory engagement. In H.J. Chatterjee & L. Hannan (Eds.), Engaging the Senses: Object-based learning in Higher Education, 1–18, Farnham: Ashgate.

Chatterjee, H.J. & Thomson, L.J. (2015). Museums and social prescribing: Policy impact on community referral in the UK, in H.L. Robertson (Ed.), The Caring Museum: New models of engagement with ageing, 304–341. Edinburgh and Boston: Museums Etc.

Sharp, A., Thomson, L.J, Chatterjee, H.J. & Hannan, L. (2015). The value of object-based learning within and between Higher Education disciplines. In H.J. Chatterjee & L. Hannan (Eds.), Engaging the Senses: Object-based learning in Higher Education, 97–116, Farnham: Ashgate.

Chatterjee, H.J. & Noble, G. (2013). Museums, Health and Wellbeing. Farnham: Ashgate.

Ander, E.E., Thomson, L.J. & Chatterjee, H.J. (2013). Culture’s place in wellbeing: Measuring museum wellbeing interventions, in R. Coles and Z. Millman (Eds.), Landscape, Wellbeing and Environment, 147–166. Abingdon: Routledge.

Chatterjee, H.J. (2008). Touch in Museums: Policy and practice in object handling. Oxford: Berg.

Noble, G. & Chatterjee, H.J (2008). Enrichment programmes in hospital: Using museum loan boxes in University College Hospital. In H.J. Chatterjee (Eds.) Touch in Museums: Policy and practice in object handling, 215-223. Oxford: Berg.