Mental well-being and associated factors among performing artists in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background Performing artists are exposed to unique occupational stressors, including irregular employment, financial insecurity, competitive work environments, and unstable professional opportunities, which may adversely affect mental well-being. Despite growing recognition of mental health as a public health priority, evidence regarding the mental well-being of performing artists in low-resource settings such as Nepal remains limited. This study aimed to assess mental well-being and identify associated factors among performing artists in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 240 performing artists, including actors, theatre artists, dancers, and singers, in Kathmandu Metropolitan City between February and March 2025. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling. Data were collected through structured self-administered questionnaires covering socio-demographic, occupational, and behavioral characteristics. Mental well-being was assessed using the 14-item Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. Results The mean age of participants was 27.75 ± 6.00 years, and 70.8% were male. Overall, 83.3% of participants demonstrated mental well-being, while 16.7% had poor mental well-being. In bivariate analysis, weekly working hours (p = 0.030), physical exercise (p = 0.020), satisfaction with work availability (p = 0.002), and access to resources or support (p = 0.036) were significantly associated with mental well-being. However, in multivariable logistic regression, only satisfaction with work availability remained independently associated with mental well-being. Compared with dissatisfied participants, those reporting neutral satisfaction had higher odds of mental well-being (AOR = 2.488, 95% CI: 1.095–5.656), while satisfied participants demonstrated even higher odds (AOR = 3.848, 95% CI: 1.186–12.483). Conclusions Most performing artists demonstrated mental well-being; however, a substantial minority experienced poorer well-being. Satisfaction with work availability emerged as the key independent determinant of mental well-being, underscoring the importance of employment stability and professional opportunities in supporting psychological health among performing artists. Targeted occupational and mental health interventions are warranted to support this population in low-resource settings.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. BMC Psychology, 2026 · DOI ↗