Smug? Cultured? You're right!

Innocent art hounds at the de Young gallery, San Francisco. [James]

This report here, on a report here, states:

Cultured people happier, less stressed

People who go to museums and concerts or create art or play an instrument are more satisfied with their lives, regardless of how educated or rich they are, according to a study.

But the link between culture and feeling good about oneself is not quite the same in both sexes, according to the study, published in the British Medical Association's Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

For men, passive activities such as taking in a concert or museum exhibition are associated with an upbeat mood and better health, it found.

For women, though, the link is active, in that they were less likely to feel anxious, depressed or feel unwell if they played music or created art.

Well, I knew being an art-hound had hidden benefits, it's nice have that confirmed. However I was less impressed by the sample:

Researchers led by Koenraad Cuypers of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology analysed information culled from 50,797 adults living in Norway's Nord-Trondelag County.

That'll be in Scandinavia, suicide and winter depression central, no? Well, I'll take the conclusions anyway...