Abstract
Background
This study examined short-term changes in social connectedness and subjective vitality following culturally adapted, co-created immersive performances, and explored baseline-adjusted associations among cultural appropriateness, co-creation engagement, social connectedness, and vitality.
Methods
A single-group pre–post field study was conducted across four communities in Guangdong, China. Data from 786 matched participants were analyzed using paired-samples tests and structural equation modeling with bootstrap estimation.
Results
Social connectedness was higher after participation than at baseline (3.48 vs. 3.27,
d
z = 0.40,
p
d
z = 0.46,
p
β
= 0.551), which was associated with social connectedness (
β
= 0.355); social connectedness was associated with vitality (
β
= 0.419). Significant indirect associations were observed through co-creation alone (
β
= 0.068, 95% CI [0.037, 0.102]) and through co-creation and social connectedness (
β
= 0.082, 95% CI [0.065, 0.100]).
Conclusion
Participants reported higher immediate social connectedness and subjective vitality after the performances, while the structural findings were consistent with theory-informed indirect pathways. Given the study design, these associations should not be interpreted as evidence of causal mediation.