Likelihood of following a physician prescription to engage in the arts in the US

Social prescribing of activities such as arts ("arts on prescription") is growing globally, but it is unclear how much these prescriptions change behaviors. In data from the 2023 Americans Speak Out About the Arts Survey (<i>n</i> = 2,996 US adults), 76% said they were somewhat or very likely to follow a doctor's recommendation if they were given a prescription to engage in the arts. The strongest predictors of positive responses were experience of past health benefits from the arts, belief in future health benefits, high educational attainment, approval of government arts funding, existing engagement in the arts, and being female. Applying behavior change frameworks, the strongest identified predictors relate to reflective motivations, suggesting that uptake may be increased via programs that explain what arts on prescription is, how it works, why patients are receiving referrals, what the evidence base is, and what benefits patients may experience.