Cultural participation and psychological wellbeing: the mediating role of transcendence

Abstract The psychological benefits of engaging in cultural and artistic activities are increasingly recognized, yet the mechanisms remain underexplored – a gap that prevents the development of evidence-based cultural programs for optimal wellbeing outcomes. This research addresses this gap by identifying the underlying psychological mediators linking cultural participation to wellbeing. Drawing on survey data from 1516 Chinese youths and structural equation modeling, we demonstrate that cultural participation enhances wellbeing through the serial mediation of four transcendent character strengths: trait appreciation of beauty (AoB), gratitude, hope and nonattachment; moreover, active participation differs slightly from passive and hybrid forms of participation in that it has both mediated and direct effects. This study advances cultural participation research by theorizing a novel psychological pathway within China’s unique cultural-technological contexts whilst extending the positive psychology literature with a secularized Buddhist concept (i.e., nonattachment). For practitioners, the findings support integrating art participation into mental health interventions. For policymakers, the study highlights the importance of structuring and evaluating cultural programs with strength-focused frameworks rather than generic participation metrics. By bridging theoretical and practical domains, this research paves the way for interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaborations to leverage cultural engagement as a tool for improving youth mental health.