Arts-Based Intervention for Promoting Psychosocial Health of Persons with Physical Disabilities: A Scoping Review protocol

Physical disability refers to a condition where individuals experience significant deviations or impairments in body function or structure, with an impact on their physical capability and mobility (World Health Organization, 2001). It is estimated that approximately 390 million people suffer from physical disabilities in global (World Health Organization, 2023). As a result of physically functional limitations in daily living and participating in recreational and social activities, persons with physical disabilities encounter not only physical challenges but also psychosocial issues (de Hollander & Proper, 2018; Steptoe & Di Gessa, 2021). Compared with general populations, those with physical disabilities have a higher risk of experiencing social isolation (Krahn et al., 2015; Mithen et al., 2015). Current evidence further finds that physical disability is associated with the risk of depression, and there is an almost 4-fold higher incidence of depression than the general population (Shen et al., 2017). Such psychosocial issues further affect their quality of life and well-being (Kagan et al., 2018). Given the burden of psychosocial issues caused by physical disabilities, it is warranted to tailor appropriate interventions to address such issues. Art has been considered as a therapeutic tool for providing individuals a means to express themselves and interact with others by engaging in artistic activities in a non-judgmental and inclusive environment (American Art Therapy Association, 2025; Fancourt & Finn, 2019). Through engaging in various artistic activities, such as drawing, handicraft-making, dancing, and singing, individuals can express complex feelings, emotions, and thoughts that may be difficult to present verbally (Januchta-Szostak, 2010). In addition, art has also gained recognition as a powerful tool for advocacy within the movement of disability rights, offering persons with physical disabilities with a platform to express, communicate, and promote inclusion (Holloway, 2021). Particularly in this scope, the creative and expressive outlet involved in art, especially within people with physical disabilities, is not just a form of self-expression, it also serves as a catalyst for inclusivity and the breaking down of barriers to interaction, contributing to a more equitable, inclusive, and understanding environment (Farah, 2023). In recent decades, there has been an increasing interest in the use of art in healthcare settings to serve as a multidisciplinary approach to promote health of individuals (Sonke et al., 2009; State of the Field Committee, 2009). Growing evidence supports the positive impact of arts-based interventions, particularly dance or movement, on physical health of older people (Hwang & Braun, 2015; Santos et al., 2020). While the arts-based interventions with visual arts and expressive arts formats, such as drawing and drama, contribute to improve psychosocial health of people with cancers and dementia (Abu-Odah et al., 2024; Xu et al., 2025). There have been a number of studies on exploring the psychosocial benefits of arts-based interventions on people with physical disabilities (Briks et al., 2020; Fraser & Keating, 2014; Kongkasuwan et al., 2016). Nevertheless, there is a gap in the current literature regarding the synthesis of evidence on arts-based interventions for persons with physical disabilities. Given the potential benefits of arts-based interventions on promoting psychosocial health, it is important to consolidate existing knowledge on the use of arts-based interventions for this population. Thus, a scoping review will be conducted that aims to synthesize current evidence on using arts-based interventions for promoting psychosocial health among persons with physical disabilities.