A trip to the theater, museum or art gallery could help you live longer. And the more often you get that culture fix the better, a new study suggests.

最新研究表明，去剧院、博物馆或美术馆看剧或游览能延年益寿，而且去得越多，效果越好。

Researchers from University College London (UCL) found that people who engaged in the arts more frequently -- every few months or more -- had a 31% lower risk of dying early when compared to those who didn't. Even going to the theater or museum once or twice a year was linked with a 14% lower risk.

伦敦大学学院的研究人员发现，与不经常参加艺术活动的人相比，经常参加艺术活动的人（每隔几个月或更长时间去一次）早逝的风险降低了31%。即使每年去一两次剧院或博物馆，早逝风险也能降低14%。

They looked at data given by more than 6,000 adults in England age 50 years and older, who were taking part in a wider study on aging.

研究人员研究了6000多名50岁以上的英国成年人提供的数据，这些人参与了一项更广泛的衰老研究。

"While other health behaviors like smoking, alcohol and exercise are undoubtedly¹ bigger predictors of mortality, these leisure and pleasure activities that people don't think as a health related activity do support good health and longevity," said Daisy Fancourt, an associate professor at UCL's Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health.

“虽然其他健康行为如吸烟、饮酒和运动无疑更能预测死亡率，但这些人们认为与健康无关的休闲娱乐活动也有利于健康长寿”，伦敦大学学院行为科学和健康研究部门的副教授黛西·范克特说。

How often an individual engaged in art activities, which also included exhibitions, concerts and opera but not cinema, was measured at the start of the study in 2004 to 2005. Participants were then followed up for an average of 12 years, during which time deaths were recorded using data from the UK's National Health Service (NHS.)在2004年至2005年研究开始时，研究人员统计了每位受访者参加艺术活动（包括展览、音乐会和歌剧，但不包括电影）的频率。随后，研究人员对受访者进行了平均12年的跟踪调查，在此期间，他们使用英国国民健康服务体系的数据记录了受访者的死亡情况。

The study looked at a range of economic, health and social factors to try and explain why there is a link between "arts engagement" and living longer, although as an observational study it can't establish cause. Part of the reason, the study said, comes down to social and economic differences among those who go and don't go to museums, exhibitions and art galleries.

这项研究考察了一系列经济、健康和社会因素，试图解释为什么“参加艺术活动”和长寿之间存在联系，尽管作为一项观察性研究，它不能确定原因。研究称，部分原因在于是否前去参观博物馆、展览和画廊的人之间存在社会和经济差异。

Wealth, they found, explained about 9% of the association. Cognitive² differences, social and civic³ engagement, mental health, mobility⁴ and deprivation⁵ also played a role. Things like free time and occupational status made no material difference, said Fancourt.

研究人员发现，财富解释了约9%的关联。认知差异、社会和公民参与、心理健康、流动性、和贫困也起到了作用。范克特说，空闲时间和职业地位等因素并没有产生实质性的影响。

"Part of the association is attributable to differences in socioeconomic status among those who do and do not engage in the arts," the study said.

研究称：“这种联系部分可归因于那些参加或不参加艺术活动的人的社会经济地位的差异。”

Fancourt said that engaging with the arts can act as a buffer⁶ against stress and build creativity that allows people to adapt to changing circumstances. It also helps people build social capital -- accessing emotional support and information that helps people age more successfully.

范克特说，参加艺术活动可以缓解压力，培养创造力，让人们适应不断变化的环境。它还帮助人们建立社会资本——获得情感支持，以及更加从容应对老龄的信息。

"We also thought that a greater sense of purpose could play a role," she said. "If this (study) is added to the larger body of evidence, we are getting an increasingly rich picture on how arts can benefit health and it's not about one single outcome. It can have wide ranging benefits and support healthier lives lived longer."她说：“我们还认为，更强烈的目标感可能会发挥作用。如果把这项研究加入到更广泛的证据中，我们就会越来越多地了解到艺术如何有益于健康，而这不仅仅是一个单一的结果。它可以有广泛的好处，帮助人们健康长寿。”

This study did not look at the effects of taking part in art-related activities but a World Health Organization review of available evidence published last year found that both receptive participation⁷, like visiting a museum, and active participation, like singing in a choir⁸, had health benefits.

这项研究并没有探讨参与艺术相关活动的影响，但世界卫生组织去年发表的对现有证据的回顾发现，接受性参与（如参观博物馆）和积极参与（如参加唱诗班）都对健康有益。

An editorial that accompanied the paper said that everyone should have the chance to take part in cultural activities and said the study added weight to growing concerns about the decline in arts subjects in schools and universities.

与研究报告一同发表的一篇社论称，每个人都应该有机会参加文化活动，并表示该研究增加了人们对中小学和大学艺术类课程减少的担忧。

"Clinicians who read the paper might recognize the value of the arts, but will also wonder how engagement with culture and the arts could influence longevity," the editorial said.

社论称：“读过这篇论文的临床医生可能会认识到艺术的价值，但他们也会想，与文化和艺术的接触会如何影响寿命。”