Cognition, Care, and Cultural Place-Making: Narrative Responses Across Two Museum Settings

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Sixty-four participants (32 older adults and 32 caregivers) engaged in a photo-elicitation protocol, photographing exhibits and narrating reflections. Thematic analysis identified four recurring themes: Cultural Anchoring, Civic Consciousness, Nostalgia of Childhood, and Intergenerational Affection. At the NSM, participants without mild cognitive impairment or depressive symptoms expressed broader thematic diversity, including future-oriented reflections, whereas those with cognitive impairment or depression engaged more narrowly with health literacy and family-related themes. At Museum Siam, dyadic analysis highlighted both congruent and divergent storytelling, with differences enriching intergenerational remembering rather than producing conflict. Emotional expressions such as gratitude, nostalgia, and pride demonstrated how museums serve as relational spaces of memory, empathy, and shared reflection. Findings position museums as culturally grounded infrastructures for social prescribing, fostering resilience, autobiographical memory, and intergenerational solidarity within ageing societies. Integrative & Complementary Medicine autobiographical memory embodied memory intergenerational remembering narrative methods museum engagement healthy ageing Introduction Population ageing is a pressing challenge for global health systems, with WHO emphasizing the need for environments that promote healthy ageing [ 1 ]. Research consistently shows that cultural engagement and creative practices support resilience in later life [ 2 – 4 ]. At a theoretical level, autobiographical remembering reflects multidimensional mental representations that extend beyond an episodic–semantic continuum [ 5 ], while heritage sites afford emotional connections increasingly mediated through digital media [ 6 ]. Museums, as cultural infrastructures, have long been recognized as educational and therapeutic landscapes [ 7 – 9 ]. In parallel, social prescribing initiatives have identified museums and arts engagement as promising pathways for addressing loneliness, depression, and quality of life among older adults [ 10 – 12 ]. Population ageing presents urgent challenges for mental health and cognitive well-being, calling for innovative, community-based strategies that extend beyond clinical care. Cultural and environmental settings such as museums have emerged as therapeutic landscapes where engagement with artifacts and place can foster social connection, identity, and emotional resilience [ 2 , 3 , 13 ]. Museums can activate autobiographical memory, linking older adults to personal and cultural histories, and embodied memory, where sensory and spatial cues elicit affective responses rooted in lived experience [ 5 , 6 , 14 ]. These processes may be especially beneficial for individuals at risk of depression or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), who often face diminished narrative diversity and social participation. Although arts and health research increasingly document the value of cultural engagement, most evidence comes from Western, group-based interventions such as reminiscence programs, with limited attention to individualized, participant-led methods or non-Western contexts [ 15 , 16 ]. Moreover, few studies have examined how museum spaces shape intergenerational remembering, particularly in elder–caregiver dyads that are central to ageing societies in Asia. Understanding how different types of museums—science-oriented versus heritage-oriented—structure thematic and emotional engagement can illuminate their potential as culturally grounded infrastructures of health. This study compares two Thai museums with distinct orientations: the National Science Museum (NSM) and Museum Siam. Using a photo-elicitation protocol [ 17 ], elders and caregivers photographed exhibits [ 7 ] and provided narrative reflections, allowing systematic analysis of thematic diversity, subgroup differences by cognitive and affective status, and dyadic storytelling congruence. By integrating experiences of memory, place, and ageing [ 18 ], the study reframes museums as health-promoting environments that foster autobiographical and embodied memory, strengthen intergenerational empathy, and align with global initiatives for Healthy Ageing. Methods S tudy Context and Perspective This study was conducted across two public museums in Thailand with distinct orientations: Museum Siam in Bangkok and the NSM in Pathum Thani. Both institutions are nationally recognized for their innovative approaches to learning and cultural engagement, yet they differ in thematic focus and curatorial design, providing a rich basis for comparison. Museum Siam , operated by the National Discovery Museum Institute (NDMI), is renowned for its interactive, narrative-driven exhibitions that explore Thai identity, history, and culture. Six galleries were purposefully selected for their ability to evoke memory, stimulate reflection, and foster intergenerational dialogue. These included: Thai Beliefs (objects of Thai cosmology and ritual practice), Thai Snap (photographic studio of identity), Thai Witthaya (classroom through eras of Thai education), Thai Splendor (royal court aesthetics), Thai Since Birth (historical epochs of Thai identity), and Thai Taste (living kitchen of Thai cuisine). NSM , by contrast, emphasizes science, technology, and health literacy through large-scale interactive displays. Six exhibit points were selected based on accessibility, thematic richness, and potential for personal resonance: Pottery Technology , Royal Tribute to Her Majesty the Queen , Metallurgy Technology , Our Body (human biology and genetics), Quality of Life (science, environment, and sustainability), and RoboThespian (humanoid robot interaction). Across both sites, the selection of twelve exhibit points followed eight guiding criteria: (1) spatial accessibility for elders and caregivers; (2) connection to participants’ prior experiences; (3) potential to stimulate conversation and exchange; (4) physical accessibility; (5) continuity of spatial flow; (6) clarity of interpretive communication; (7) opportunities for varied modes of interaction; and (8) opportunities for discovery and self-directed learning through diverse media. Together, these two museums offered complementary environments: Museum Siam foregrounded cultural heritage and identity, while NSM emphasized science, technology, and health. This contrast enabled systematic exploration of how different museum contexts activate autobiographical and embodied memory, intergenerational storytelling, and emotional well-being. Participants and Procedure A total of 32 elder–caregiver dyads (n = 64) were recruited across the two museum sites: 16 dyads at Museum Siam and 16 dyads at NSM. Each dyad comprised an older adult and their primary caregiver, reflecting the study’s focus on intergenerational experiences of museum engagement. The composition of caregivers varied by site. At NSM, caregivers included 1 adult child, 1 grandchild, 2 paid caregivers, and 12 trained healthy aging volunteers recruited through a volunteer program. In contrast, at Museum Siam, caregivers were primarily family-based, including 9 adult children, 2 grandchildren, 2 paid caregivers, 2 relatives, and 1 volunteer. This contrast highlights different caregiving contexts: a structured volunteer network at NSM versus family caregiving networks at Museum Siam. Each dyad participated in a one-hour visit at their assigned museum, freely exploring the six pre-selected exhibit points (see Study Context). At each point, participants were invited to take one photograph of an object, space, or moment they found meaningful. After completing their visit, each participant chose the single photograph they considered most significant. This image became the anchor for a semi-structured, photo-elicited narrative interview, during which participants reflected on how the selected moment related to their well-being, identity, or emotional experience. Instruments To assess depressive symptoms, we employed the Thai version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), which consists of nine items scored on a 0–3 scale, yielding a total score range of 0–27. A cut-off score of < 9 was applied to identify clinically relevant depressive symptoms [ 19 ]. Cognitive status was screened using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment–Thai version (MoCA-Thai) , which covers seven domains—visuospatial/executive functions, attention, short-term memory, language, calculation, abstraction, and orientation to time and place. The MoCA-Thai is a validated and reliable instrument, with scores ranging from 0 to 30; a score < 26 was used to classify participants as having mild cognitive impairment (MCI) [ 20 ]. Both instruments have been validated for use in Thai populations and were administered to all older adult participants prior to museum visits. These measures allowed us to examine subgroup variations in narrative engagement according to cognitive and affective status. Ethics and consent All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. To complement the narrative accounts, the lead researcher kept observational field notes documenting participants’ non-verbal behaviors (smiles, tears, gestures, pauses) and spontaneous inter-dyadic interactions. All participants provided written informed consent prior to data collection. The study was approved by an institutional review board [blinded for review]. All procedures complied with relevant institutional guidelines and the Declaration of Helsinki. Sex and gender were not collected or analyzed; this is noted as a limitation for generalizability. De-identified qualitative materials (interview guide, coding frame, aggregated theme counts) are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request and subject to institutional approvals [blinded for review]. Data Collection and Analysis Data included (1) participant photographs, (2) narrative interviews, and (3) observational field notes. The photo-elicitation method was chosen to ground participants’ reflections in visual stimuli, facilitating rich autobiographical and embodied responses, particularly valuable for older adults who may experience cognitive or expressive limitations. Narratives were analyzed thematically [ 21 ], guided by concepts of narrative transportation [ 22 ] and relational well-being [ 23 ]. Coding was inductive and iterative, with close attention to emotional tone, cultural symbolism, and intergenerational dynamics. Constant comparison ensured consistency, while bilingual translation and participant review preserved cultural nuance. Each dyad was labeled using the prefix “NDMI” and “NSM” numbered sequentially, with elders (E) and caregivers (C) identified separately. Researcher Positionality The research team—trained in psychosocial occupational therapy and museum studies—approached the museum not only as a site of learning but also as a therapeutic place where memory, identity, and connection are activated [ 24 – 25 ]. Reflexivity was maintained throughout data collection and analysis, with interpretations grounded in participants’ voices while remaining attentive to cultural and relational nuances expressed verbally and non-verbally. Results Participant Characteristics Table 1 summarizes the demographic and clinical characteristics of the 64 participants, divided evenly across four groups (elders and caregivers at both NSM and Museum Siam). The overall mean age was 55.9 years (SD = 14.96), reflecting a balanced mix of working-age caregivers (mean = 43.2 years) and older adults (mean = 68.7 years). As expected, elders were significantly older than caregivers in both museums, with the Museum Siam elder group averaging 71.6 years and the NSM elder group 65.8 years. Table 1 Participant Characteristics by Group Group n Age (years) PHQ-9 MoCA Total 64 55.92 ± 14.96 1.69 ± 2.20 25.69 ± 3.33 Caregivers – Museum Siam 16 48.75 ± 5.05 1.50 ± 1.10 27.50 ± 1.71 Elders – Museum Siam 16 71.56 ± 6.21 1.38 ± 1.36 24.38 ± 3.96 Caregivers – Science Museum 16 37.62 ± 9.51 2.81 ± 3.69 26.19 ± 2.17 Elders – Science Museum 16 65.75 ± 3.00 1.06 ± 1.29 24.69 ± 4.06 The caregiver groups also differed in composition between sites. At NSM, the majority were trained volunteers (12 of 16), whereas Museum Siam caregivers were mostly family members (9 children and 2 grandchildren, alongside 2 paid caregivers, 2 relatives, and 1 volunteer). These differences may partly explain variations in narrative style, with NSM caregivers often emphasizing learning and health promotion, while Museum Siam caregivers highlighted familial duty and intergenerational bonds. Cognitive screening scores (MoCA) were generally within the mild impairment to normal range (overall M = 25.7, SD = 3.33). Caregivers at Museum Siam demonstrated the highest average MoCA scores (M = 27.5), while elders in both museums had slightly lower scores (24.4–24.7), consistent with age-related cognitive differences. Depressive symptoms, measured by PHQ-9, were low across all groups (overall M = 1.69, SD = 2.20), with no group exceeding the clinical cutoff for mild depression. Caregivers at NSM reported slightly higher symptom scores (M = 2.81) compared with other groups, whereas elders in both sites reported the lowest symptom levels (around 1.0–1.4). Together, these findings indicate that the sample included cognitively intact or mildly impaired older adults alongside relatively healthy caregivers, providing a suitable foundation for analyzing thematic and emotional responses to museum engagement. Overall Thematic Patterns Across Museums Across both NSM and Museum Siam, four harmonized themes emerged most consistently: Cultural Anchoring, Civic Consciousness, Nostalgia of Childhood, and Intergenerational Affection. While these themes were shared across sites, their relative prominence and narrative tone varied. At NSM, participants often connected exhibits to science, education, and civic pride, whereas at Museum Siam, reflections foregrounded cultural identity, moral belonging, and relational memory. Elders tended to emphasize embodied recollections and nostalgia, while caregivers highlighted knowledge, responsibility, and intergenerational continuity. Golden Quotations by Theme and Site Table 2 presents representative “golden quotations” illustrating thematic voices from both elders and caregivers across the two museums. Table 2 Golden quotations by theme and site Theme NSM – Elder NSM – Caregiver Museum Siam – Elder Museum Siam – Caregiver Cultural Anchoring “This pottery reminds me of our roots; it feels like part of my own story.” (E-03) “I want my children to see how Thai science developed over time.” (C-07) “Being Thai since birth, I feel proud of our history displayed here.” (E-12) “I can connect what I learned in school with these exhibits.” (C-05) Civic Consciousness “This tribute to the Queen makes me feel grateful for the country.” (E-09) “I admire how our leaders invested in science education.” (C-10) “The Thai Witthaya room reminds us that knowledge belongs to everyone.” (E-04) “It shows me that I also have a duty to society.” (C-08) Nostalgia of Childhood “The robotics make me laugh like when I was a boy.” (E-15) “Seeing the old machines, I think of my father’s work.” (C-02) “When I see the toys, I recall playing in the temple yard.” (E-01) “It makes me think of my grandmother’s stories.” (C-11) Intergenerational Affection “I want to share this moment with my granddaughter.” (E-06) “Bringing my mother here makes me feel closer to her.” (C-14) “Walking together, I see how my daughter cares for me.” (E-07) “I feel proud to accompany my father to this place.” (C-03) Note. E = elder; C = caregiver. Quotations selected as “golden” exemplars of thematic coding. These quotations reveal both commonalities and contrasts across museums. At NSM, exhibits in technology and science often prompted participants to frame their reflections in relation to progress, education, and national development, whereas at Museum Siam, narratives emphasized identity, belonging, and moral duty. Caregivers frequently oriented their storytelling toward learning and transmission of knowledge, while elders foregrounded memory and embodied emotion. Dyadic mismatches, particularly at Museum Siam, did not signal conflict but rather complementary perspectives that enriched intergenerational dialogue, layering affective memory with contemporary interpretation. Contextual Variation by Exhibit Space At NSM, themes tended to cluster around particular rooms, reflecting the spatial and didactic design of the exhibitions. Room 1 (Ceramic Technology) and Room 3 (Metallurgy) frequently elicited narratives of Cultural Anchoring, as participants drew connections between traditional crafts and national heritage. Room 2 (Royal Tribute to the Queen) inspired reflections of Civic Consciousness, underscoring participants’ moral and social identification with the monarchy’s legacy. Room 4 (Our Body) often prompted humorous or playful responses linked to Nostalgia, particularly childhood recollections of health and bodily growth. By contrast, Room 6 (RoboThespian) evoked curiosity and futuristic imagination, occasionally layered with intergenerational comparisons between elders and younger kin. At Museum Siam, thematic clustering reflected exhibit motifs rather than spatially segmented rooms. The exhibition “Thai Since Birth” anchored narratives in cultural identity, while “Thai Witthaya” supported civic and educational interpretations. More playful interactive spaces, especially those invoking childhood, sparked Nostalgia. Galleries centered on everyday life encouraged Intergenerational Affection, as participants recalled stories of caregiving, domestic roles, and family traditions. The NSM dataset further enabled subgroup analyses by cognitive and affective status. Non-MCI participants exhibited broader thematic diversity, engaging with all four core themes as well as future-oriented reflections in the RoboThespian room. In contrast, MCI participants focused more narrowly on Cultural Anchoring and Intergenerational Affection, suggesting reliance on familiar cultural narratives. Similarly, participants with depressive symptoms tended to emphasize health literacy and quality-of-life concerns, whereas non-depressed participants expressed more nostalgic and joyful responses. Subgroup Comparisons: Cognitive and Affective Status Across both museums, thematic engagement varied systematically according to participants’ cognitive and affective profiles. NSM. Participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 9 quotations) concentrated on a smaller set of themes, most often health literacy and basic intergenerational affection, with reflections oriented toward immediate wellbeing and family support. By contrast, non-MCI participants ( n = 23) engaged with a more diverse thematic repertoire, encompassing cultural anchoring, nostalgia of childhood, civic consciousness, and playful or emotionally positive responses. This contrast suggests that intact cognitive function allowed broader associative storytelling and engagement with the symbolic dimensions of exhibits. Similarly, depressive symptoms appeared to limit thematic range: participants at risk of depression ( n = 3) spoke mainly about health-related and pragmatic concerns, while non-depressed participants ( n = 29) expressed a wide spectrum of meanings, including nostalgic, intergenerational, and joyful associations. Museum Siam. A parallel pattern was evident. Elders and caregivers with MCI focused predominantly on cultural anchoring and intergenerational affection, with few references to civic or abstract themes. Non-MCI participants extended their narratives to include civic consciousness and broader cultural reflection. Depressive symptoms again narrowed thematic engagement: those at risk concentrated almost exclusively on cultural anchoring and pragmatic concerns, whereas non-depressed participants drew on all four thematic areas, including nostalgia, civic pride, and affectionate family bonds. Comparative synthesis. Taken together, the two datasets point to a consistent pattern: cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms narrow the thematic and emotional scope of engagement, while cognitively intact and non-depressed participants demonstrate greater thematic diversity and stronger resonance with symbolic, nostalgic, and relational meanings. What differs between sites is the texture of expression: NSM participants, prompted by science- and technology-oriented exhibits, tended to balance pragmatic and cultural reflections, whereas Museum Siam participants generated more narrative-rich and relational storytelling—even when narrowed by impairment or mood symptoms. Dyadic Storytelling at NSM Analysis of the 16 NSM caregiver–elder dyads (n = 32) revealed a spectrum of narrative alignments, ranging from strongly shared meanings to divergent but complementary interpretations. Using thematic coding, dyads were classified as matched when both caregiver and elder anchored their narratives in similar symbolic domains, mismatched when narratives diverged to different thematic poles, and partially matched when some overlap was present but emphases diverged. Overall, 7 dyads were matched, 8 mismatched, and 1 partially matched. Matched pairs frequently shared themes of cultural anchoring (e.g., Thai silk, vernacular crafts), nostalgia for childhood and family life, and intergenerational affection. For example, in Dyad NSM-C/E-001 both caregiver and elder described the silk exhibit as a proud reminder of Thai heritage, with the elder adding a sense of intergenerational continuity: “I am proud that the younger generation still knows our roots”. In contrast, mismatched dyads typically reflected different interpretive lenses: caregivers often emphasized learning, technology, or health literacy, while elders foregrounded heritage, relational meaning, or civic values. For instance, in Dyad NSM-C/E-014, the caregiver highlighted the telescope exhibit as a tool for “seeing the unseen” and scientific curiosity, whereas the elder imagined the serenity of a Thai house as a symbol of well-being and calm. These divergences were not experienced as conflict but rather as parallel framings that enriched the collective storytelling encounter. Partial matches often combined practical health or learning reflections with more affective or socio-emotional tones. In Dyad NSM-C/E-005, the caregiver recalled the use of charcoal for household and health purposes, while the elder reminisced about the warmth of family meals and the role of grandparents in silk-making. Both evoked “home,” but through different textures of memory and meaning. Taken together, the NSM dataset illustrates how intergenerational visits can elicit multiple co-existing narratives: caregivers gravitating toward knowledge acquisition and contemporary application, elders emphasizing continuity, identity, and family bonds. The result is a dialogic storytelling space, where mismatches are as generative as matches, offering opportunities for empathy, reflection, and mutual learning. Dyadic Storytelling at Museum Siam Analysis of the 16 elder–caregiver dyads (n = 32) at Museum Siam revealed that the exhibition setting strongly invited dialogic storytelling rooted in shared cultural identity and personal memory. Dyads were again classified as matched, mismatched, or partially matched, according to the thematic alignment of their narratives. Of the 16 dyads, 4 demonstrated matched storytelling, in which both elder and caregiver emphasized the same symbolic anchors—typically cultural anchoring and civic consciousness. For example, in Dyad MS-C/E-003, both members described the “Thai Since Birth” gallery as affirming national heritage, with the caregiver noting its relevance for youth identity and the elder reflecting on continuity across generations: “This reminds us that we are Thai since birth”. The majority of dyads, however, showed mismatched storytelling (n = 12). In these cases, elders and caregivers brought complementary but distinct interpretive frames to the same exhibits. Caregivers often highlighted learning, moral lessons, or contemporary application, while elders narrated from a position of nostalgia, embodied memory, or intergenerational affection. For instance, in Dyad MS-C/E-011, the caregiver focused on civic duty reflected in the exhibit, while the elder described childhood memories of temple fairs and parental teachings. Rather than creating tension, such divergences enriched intergenerational dialogue, layering moral, affective, and cultural dimensions into the shared visit. Unlike at the NSM, mismatches at Museum Siam did not emphasize technological versus heritage divides, but instead revealed multiplicity within cultural memory itself. Elders often narrated from lived experience of the past, while caregivers projected contemporary responsibilities and aspirations onto the same symbols. This interplay underscores how family identity is co-constructed in cultural spaces, even when interpretive emphases diverge. Across all dyads, quotations revealed that mismatched narratives often prompted further conversation and curiosity rather than silence. For example, in Dyad MS-C/E-014, the caregiver described lessons of “responsibility to the nation,” while the elder reminisced about grandparents’ ways of teaching morality in daily life. The dialogue illustrates how parallel stories intersect to produce intergenerational empathy. Taken together, Museum Siam dyads demonstrate that the power of cultural exhibits lies not in unifying interpretation but in stimulating diverse, layered storytelling. Whereas NSM elicited sharper contrasts between knowledge and heritage, Museum Siam narratives revolved around shared cultural symbols with intergenerationally distinct inflections. This suggests that museum-based dyadic engagement can operate as a relational platform for both empathy and difference, deepening understanding across generations. Discussion This comparative study demonstrates how two museums—NSM and Museum Siam—function as therapeutic places that activate autobiographical and embodied memory, fostering emotional well-being, intergenerational dialogue, and cultural continuity. Four thematic patterns consistently emerged across sites: Cultural Anchoring, Civic Consciousness, Nostalgia of Childhood, and Intergenerational Affection. These themes highlight the capacity of museums to elicit deeply personal yet socially shared forms of remembering, positioning them as relational spaces that extend beyond education to psychosocial care. At the NSM, thematic engagement varied by cognitive and affective status. Participants without MCI or depressive symptoms displayed broader thematic diversity, including future-oriented and civic reflections. By contrast, those with MCI or depression concentrated more narrowly on family ties and health literacy. This echoes evidence that cognitive [ 26 ] and affective vulnerability constrain the range of autobiographical memory retrieval [ 14 ], yet also shows how targeted exhibits can still evoke meaningful embodied responses [ 27 ]. At Museum Siam, analysis of elder–caregiver dyads revealed that storytelling was rarely uniform but instead layered and complementary. Congruent narratives emphasized shared cultural pride, while divergent narratives juxtaposed embodied nostalgia with pragmatic learning or responsibility. Rather than conflict, these differences enriched intergenerational remembering by creating dialogic space between generations [ 28 – 30 ]. This contrasts with the NSM’s more individually structured narratives, underscoring how relational design in heritage museums fosters collective meaning-making. These findings extend prior arts-and-health research [ 2 , 9 , 15 ] by showing how museums can activate both autobiographical and embodied memory in diverse populations. While much of the literature focuses on Western, group-based interventions [ 10 , 31 ], this study demonstrates the value of individualized, participant-led photo-elicitation in a non-Western context, with systematic comparisons by cognitive and affective status. In doing so, it advances understanding of museums as place-based infrastructures of health and social connection. Implications for Practice The evidence suggests museums can be integrated into cultural social prescribing, occupational therapy, and caregiver programs. By designing interventions that prompt photo-elicitation and storytelling, museums may foster resilience, empathy, and memory preservation for older adults, while simultaneously providing caregivers with opportunities for reflective dialogue. These findings align with WHO’s Healthy Ageing framework [ 1 ] and recent calls for expanding community-based infrastructures for mental health [ 30 – 32 ]. Limitations and Future Directions As a pilot study, the sample size was modest, limiting generalizability. Participants were urban and culturally homogeneous, and neurophysiological measures were not included. Future research should test this protocol longitudinally, across diverse populations, and with multimodal outcomes (e.g., heart rate variability) to examine how embodied memory mechanisms operate in museum contexts. Dyadic storytelling deserves further exploration, particularly around mismatched narratives, which may reveal deeper dynamics of relational empathy and caregiving strain. Conclusion Museums can be reframed as therapeutic landscapes where cultural engagement supports autobiographical and embodied memory, enhances intergenerational empathy, and contributes to healthy ageing. By situating memory and emotion in place, these findings highlight the potential of museums not only as cultural institutions but as integral components of health-promoting community infrastructure References World Health Organization, 2022. A toolkit on how to implement social prescribing. WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/363725 Fancourt D., Finn S., 2020. 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Exploring emotional and cognitive engagement with holographic displays in museums. ACM J. Comput. Cult. Herit. https://doi.org/10.1145/3736772 Roh M., Weon S., 2022. Living arrangement and life satisfaction of the elderly in South Korea. Soc. Indic. Res. 160, 717–734. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-020-02443-3 Cohen G.D., 2006. Research on creativity and aging: The positive impact of the arts on health and illness. Gener. 30(1), 7–15. Jelinčić D.A., Šveb M., 2021. Financial sustainability of cultural heritage: A review of crowdfunding in Europe. J. Risk Financ. Manag. 14(3), 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm14030101 Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Boonyakiet","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5648-493X","institution":"National Discovery Museum Institute","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Chewasit","middleName":"","lastName":"Boonyakiet","suffix":""},{"id":523914008,"identity":"28716138-d0ae-4402-ba8b-0fe88b221c68","order_by":2,"name":"Wilasinee Triyarat","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2687-0023","institution":"National Science Museum","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Wilasinee","middleName":"","lastName":"Triyarat","suffix":""},{"id":523914009,"identity":"74b86508-7c4d-42e7-ad3b-1ecef5e8bd7d","order_by":3,"name":"Winai 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09:11:20","extension":"html","order_by":4,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":94637,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7768231/v1/8c1ba85288ebf9324eb8c9f5.html"},{"id":92704213,"identity":"2a31cea5-c4e9-4420-9d42-94713c4778fe","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 09:19:24","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":698736,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7768231/v1/105dfebf-4545-4f78-826e-37c1a173f182.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCognition, Care, and Cultural Place-Making: Narrative Responses Across Two Museum Settings\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003ePopulation ageing is a pressing challenge for global health systems, with WHO emphasizing the need for environments that promote healthy ageing [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Research consistently shows that cultural engagement and creative practices support resilience in later life [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR3\" citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. At a theoretical level, autobiographical remembering reflects multidimensional mental representations that extend beyond an episodic\u0026ndash;semantic continuum [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e], while heritage sites afford emotional connections increasingly mediated through digital media [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. Museums, as cultural infrastructures, have long been recognized as educational and therapeutic landscapes [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR8\" citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. In parallel, social prescribing initiatives have identified museums and arts engagement as promising pathways for addressing loneliness, depression, and quality of life among older adults [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR11\" citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePopulation ageing presents urgent challenges for mental health and cognitive well-being, calling for innovative, community-based strategies that extend beyond clinical care. Cultural and environmental settings such as museums have emerged as therapeutic landscapes where engagement with artifacts and place can foster social connection, identity, and emotional resilience [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. Museums can activate autobiographical memory, linking older adults to personal and cultural histories, and embodied memory, where sensory and spatial cues elicit affective responses rooted in lived experience [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. These processes may be especially beneficial for individuals at risk of depression or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), who often face diminished narrative diversity and social participation.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough arts and health research increasingly document the value of cultural engagement, most evidence comes from Western, group-based interventions such as reminiscence programs, with limited attention to individualized, participant-led methods or non-Western contexts [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. Moreover, few studies have examined how museum spaces shape intergenerational remembering, particularly in elder\u0026ndash;caregiver dyads that are central to ageing societies in Asia. Understanding how different types of museums\u0026mdash;science-oriented versus heritage-oriented\u0026mdash;structure thematic and emotional engagement can illuminate their potential as culturally grounded infrastructures of health.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study compares two Thai museums with distinct orientations: the National Science Museum (NSM) and Museum Siam. Using a photo-elicitation protocol [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e], elders and caregivers photographed exhibits [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e] and provided narrative reflections, allowing systematic analysis of thematic diversity, subgroup differences by cognitive and affective status, and dyadic storytelling congruence. By integrating experiences of memory, place, and ageing [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e], the study reframes museums as health-promoting environments that foster autobiographical and embodied memory, strengthen intergenerational empathy, and align with global initiatives for Healthy Ageing.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eS\u003c/em\u003e\u003cb\u003etudy Context and Perspective\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study was conducted across two public museums in Thailand with distinct orientations: Museum Siam in Bangkok and the NSM in Pathum Thani. Both institutions are nationally recognized for their innovative approaches to learning and cultural engagement, yet they differ in thematic focus and curatorial design, providing a rich basis for comparison.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMuseum Siam\u003c/b\u003e, operated by the National Discovery Museum Institute (NDMI), is renowned for its interactive, narrative-driven exhibitions that explore Thai identity, history, and culture. Six galleries were purposefully selected for their ability to evoke memory, stimulate reflection, and foster intergenerational dialogue. These included:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003col\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThai Beliefs\u003c/em\u003e (objects of Thai cosmology and ritual practice),\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThai Snap\u003c/em\u003e (photographic studio of identity),\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThai Witthaya\u003c/em\u003e (classroom through eras of Thai education),\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThai Splendor\u003c/em\u003e (royal court aesthetics),\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThai Since Birth\u003c/em\u003e (historical epochs of Thai identity), and\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThai Taste\u003c/em\u003e (living kitchen of Thai cuisine).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNSM\u003c/b\u003e, by contrast, emphasizes science, technology, and health literacy through large-scale interactive displays. Six exhibit points were selected based on accessibility, thematic richness, and potential for personal resonance:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003col\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePottery Technology\u003c/em\u003e,\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRoyal Tribute to Her Majesty the Queen\u003c/em\u003e,\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMetallurgy Technology\u003c/em\u003e,\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOur Body\u003c/em\u003e (human biology and genetics),\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eQuality of Life\u003c/em\u003e (science, environment, and sustainability), and\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRoboThespian\u003c/em\u003e (humanoid robot interaction).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAcross both sites, the selection of twelve exhibit points followed eight guiding criteria: (1) spatial accessibility for elders and caregivers; (2) connection to participants\u0026rsquo; prior experiences; (3) potential to stimulate conversation and exchange; (4) physical accessibility; (5) continuity of spatial flow; (6) clarity of interpretive communication; (7) opportunities for varied modes of interaction; and (8) opportunities for discovery and self-directed learning through diverse media.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTogether, these two museums offered complementary environments: Museum Siam foregrounded cultural heritage and identity, while NSM emphasized science, technology, and health. This contrast enabled systematic exploration of how different museum contexts activate autobiographical and embodied memory, intergenerational storytelling, and emotional well-being.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eParticipants and Procedure\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA total of 32 elder\u0026ndash;caregiver dyads (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;64) were recruited across the two museum sites: 16 dyads at Museum Siam and 16 dyads at NSM. Each dyad comprised an older adult and their primary caregiver, reflecting the study\u0026rsquo;s focus on intergenerational experiences of museum engagement.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe composition of caregivers varied by site. At NSM, caregivers included 1 adult child, 1 grandchild, 2 paid caregivers, and 12 trained healthy aging volunteers recruited through a volunteer program. In contrast, at Museum Siam, caregivers were primarily family-based, including 9 adult children, 2 grandchildren, 2 paid caregivers, 2 relatives, and 1 volunteer. This contrast highlights different caregiving contexts: a structured volunteer network at NSM versus family caregiving networks at Museum Siam.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach dyad participated in a one-hour visit at their assigned museum, freely exploring the six pre-selected exhibit points (see Study Context). At each point, participants were invited to take one photograph of an object, space, or moment they found meaningful. After completing their visit, each participant chose the single photograph they considered most significant. This image became the anchor for a semi-structured, photo-elicited narrative interview, during which participants reflected on how the selected moment related to their well-being, identity, or emotional experience.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eInstruments\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo assess depressive symptoms, we employed the Thai version of the \u003cem\u003ePatient Health Questionnaire-9\u003c/em\u003e (PHQ-9), which consists of nine items scored on a 0\u0026ndash;3 scale, yielding a total score range of 0\u0026ndash;27. A cut-off score of \u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;9 was applied to identify clinically relevant depressive symptoms [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. Cognitive status was screened using the \u003cem\u003eMontreal Cognitive Assessment\u0026ndash;Thai version (MoCA-Thai)\u003c/em\u003e, which covers seven domains\u0026mdash;visuospatial/executive functions, attention, short-term memory, language, calculation, abstraction, and orientation to time and place. The MoCA-Thai is a validated and reliable instrument, with scores ranging from 0 to 30; a score\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;26 was used to classify participants as having mild cognitive impairment (MCI) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoth instruments have been validated for use in Thai populations and were administered to all older adult participants prior to museum visits. These measures allowed us to examine subgroup variations in narrative engagement according to cognitive and affective status.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEthics and consent\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. To complement the narrative accounts, the lead researcher kept observational field notes documenting participants\u0026rsquo; non-verbal behaviors (smiles, tears, gestures, pauses) and spontaneous inter-dyadic interactions. All participants provided written informed consent prior to data collection. The study was approved by an institutional review board [blinded for review]. All procedures complied with relevant institutional guidelines and the Declaration of Helsinki. Sex and gender were not collected or analyzed; this is noted as a limitation for generalizability. De-identified qualitative materials (interview guide, coding frame, aggregated theme counts) are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request and subject to institutional approvals [blinded for review].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eData Collection and Analysis\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData included (1) participant photographs, (2) narrative interviews, and (3) observational field notes. The photo-elicitation method was chosen to ground participants\u0026rsquo; reflections in visual stimuli, facilitating rich autobiographical and embodied responses, particularly valuable for older adults who may experience cognitive or expressive limitations.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNarratives were analyzed thematically [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e], guided by concepts of narrative transportation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e] and relational well-being [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e]. Coding was inductive and iterative, with close attention to emotional tone, cultural symbolism, and intergenerational dynamics. Constant comparison ensured consistency, while bilingual translation and participant review preserved cultural nuance. Each dyad was labeled using the prefix \u0026ldquo;NDMI\u0026rdquo; and \u0026ldquo;NSM\u0026rdquo; numbered sequentially, with elders (E) and caregivers (C) identified separately.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eResearcher Positionality\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe research team\u0026mdash;trained in psychosocial occupational therapy and museum studies\u0026mdash;approached the museum not only as a site of learning but also as a therapeutic place where memory, identity, and connection are activated [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. Reflexivity was maintained throughout data collection and analysis, with interpretations grounded in participants\u0026rsquo; voices while remaining attentive to cultural and relational nuances expressed verbally and non-verbally.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eParticipant Characteristics\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e summarizes the demographic and clinical characteristics of the 64 participants, divided evenly across four groups (elders and caregivers at both NSM and Museum Siam). The overall mean age was 55.9 years (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;14.96), reflecting a balanced mix of working-age caregivers (mean\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;43.2 years) and older adults (mean\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;68.7 years). As expected, elders were significantly older than caregivers in both museums, with the Museum Siam elder group averaging 71.6 years and the NSM elder group 65.8 years.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eParticipant Characteristics by Group\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGroup\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003en\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAge (years)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePHQ-9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMoCA\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e64\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e55.92\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;14.96\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.69\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25.69\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCaregivers \u0026ndash; Museum Siam\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e48.75\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.50\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27.50\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.71\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eElders \u0026ndash; Museum Siam\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e71.56\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.38\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.36\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24.38\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.96\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCaregivers \u0026ndash; Science Museum\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37.62\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;9.51\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.81\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.69\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e26.19\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.17\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eElders \u0026ndash; Science Museum\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e65.75\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.06\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.29\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24.69\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe caregiver groups also differed in composition between sites. At NSM, the majority were trained volunteers (12 of 16), whereas Museum Siam caregivers were mostly family members (9 children and 2 grandchildren, alongside 2 paid caregivers, 2 relatives, and 1 volunteer). These differences may partly explain variations in narrative style, with NSM caregivers often emphasizing learning and health promotion, while Museum Siam caregivers highlighted familial duty and intergenerational bonds.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCognitive screening scores (MoCA) were generally within the mild impairment to normal range (overall M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;25.7, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.33). Caregivers at Museum Siam demonstrated the highest average MoCA scores (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;27.5), while elders in both museums had slightly lower scores (24.4\u0026ndash;24.7), consistent with age-related cognitive differences.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDepressive symptoms, measured by PHQ-9, were low across all groups (overall M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.69, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.20), with no group exceeding the clinical cutoff for mild depression. Caregivers at NSM reported slightly higher symptom scores (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.81) compared with other groups, whereas elders in both sites reported the lowest symptom levels (around 1.0\u0026ndash;1.4).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTogether, these findings indicate that the sample included cognitively intact or mildly impaired older adults alongside relatively healthy caregivers, providing a suitable foundation for analyzing thematic and emotional responses to museum engagement.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverall Thematic Patterns Across Museums\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcross both NSM and Museum Siam, four harmonized themes emerged most consistently: Cultural Anchoring, Civic Consciousness, Nostalgia of Childhood, and Intergenerational Affection. While these themes were shared across sites, their relative prominence and narrative tone varied. At NSM, participants often connected exhibits to science, education, and civic pride, whereas at Museum Siam, reflections foregrounded cultural identity, moral belonging, and relational memory. Elders tended to emphasize embodied recollections and nostalgia, while caregivers highlighted knowledge, responsibility, and intergenerational continuity.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGolden Quotations by Theme and Site\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e presents representative \u0026ldquo;golden quotations\u0026rdquo; illustrating thematic voices from both elders and caregivers across the two museums.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGolden quotations by theme and site\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTheme\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNSM \u0026ndash; Elder\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNSM \u0026ndash; Caregiver\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMuseum Siam \u0026ndash; Elder\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMuseum Siam \u0026ndash; Caregiver\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCultural Anchoring\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;This pottery reminds me of our roots; it feels like part of my own story.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(E-03)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;I want my children to see how Thai science developed over time.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(C-07)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;Being Thai since birth, I feel proud of our history displayed here.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(E-12)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;I can connect what I learned in school with these exhibits.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(C-05)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCivic Consciousness\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;This tribute to the Queen makes me feel grateful for the country.\u0026rdquo; (E-09)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;I admire how our leaders invested in science education.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(C-10)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;The Thai Witthaya room reminds us that knowledge belongs to everyone.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(E-04)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;It shows me that I also have a duty to society.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(C-08)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNostalgia of Childhood\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;The robotics make me laugh like when I was a boy.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(E-15)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;Seeing the old machines, I think of my father\u0026rsquo;s work.\u0026rdquo; (C-02)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;When I see the toys, I recall playing in the temple yard.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(E-01)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;It makes me think of my grandmother\u0026rsquo;s stories.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(C-11)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIntergenerational Affection\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;I want to share this moment with my granddaughter.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(E-06)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;Bringing my mother here makes me feel closer to her.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(C-14)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;Walking together, I see how my daughter cares for me.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(E-07)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;I feel proud to accompany my father to this place.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(C-03)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003eNote. E\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;elder; C\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;caregiver. Quotations selected as \u0026ldquo;golden\u0026rdquo; exemplars of thematic coding.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese quotations reveal both commonalities and contrasts across museums. At NSM, exhibits in technology and science often prompted participants to frame their reflections in relation to progress, education, and national development, whereas at Museum Siam, narratives emphasized identity, belonging, and moral duty. Caregivers frequently oriented their storytelling toward learning and transmission of knowledge, while elders foregrounded memory and embodied emotion. Dyadic mismatches, particularly at Museum Siam, did not signal conflict but rather complementary perspectives that enriched intergenerational dialogue, layering affective memory with contemporary interpretation.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eContextual Variation by Exhibit Space\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt NSM, themes tended to cluster around particular rooms, reflecting the spatial and didactic design of the exhibitions. Room 1 (Ceramic Technology) and Room 3 (Metallurgy) frequently elicited narratives of Cultural Anchoring, as participants drew connections between traditional crafts and national heritage. Room 2 (Royal Tribute to the Queen) inspired reflections of Civic Consciousness, underscoring participants\u0026rsquo; moral and social identification with the monarchy\u0026rsquo;s legacy. Room 4 (Our Body) often prompted humorous or playful responses linked to Nostalgia, particularly childhood recollections of health and bodily growth. By contrast, Room 6 (RoboThespian) evoked curiosity and futuristic imagination, occasionally layered with intergenerational comparisons between elders and younger kin.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt Museum Siam, thematic clustering reflected exhibit motifs rather than spatially segmented rooms. The exhibition \u0026ldquo;Thai Since Birth\u0026rdquo; anchored narratives in cultural identity, while \u0026ldquo;Thai Witthaya\u0026rdquo; supported civic and educational interpretations. More playful interactive spaces, especially those invoking childhood, sparked Nostalgia. Galleries centered on everyday life encouraged Intergenerational Affection, as participants recalled stories of caregiving, domestic roles, and family traditions.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe NSM dataset further enabled subgroup analyses by cognitive and affective status. Non-MCI participants exhibited broader thematic diversity, engaging with all four core themes as well as future-oriented reflections in the RoboThespian room. In contrast, MCI participants focused more narrowly on Cultural Anchoring and Intergenerational Affection, suggesting reliance on familiar cultural narratives. Similarly, participants with depressive symptoms tended to emphasize health literacy and quality-of-life concerns, whereas non-depressed participants expressed more nostalgic and joyful responses.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSubgroup Comparisons: Cognitive and Affective Status\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAcross both museums, thematic engagement varied systematically according to participants\u0026rsquo; cognitive and affective profiles.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNSM.\u003c/b\u003e Participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;9 quotations) concentrated on a smaller set of themes, most often health literacy and basic intergenerational affection, with reflections oriented toward immediate wellbeing and family support. By contrast, non-MCI participants (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;23) engaged with a more diverse thematic repertoire, encompassing cultural anchoring, nostalgia of childhood, civic consciousness, and playful or emotionally positive responses. This contrast suggests that intact cognitive function allowed broader associative storytelling and engagement with the symbolic dimensions of exhibits. Similarly, depressive symptoms appeared to limit thematic range: participants at risk of depression (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3) spoke mainly about health-related and pragmatic concerns, while non-depressed participants (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;29) expressed a wide spectrum of meanings, including nostalgic, intergenerational, and joyful associations.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMuseum Siam.\u003c/b\u003e A parallel pattern was evident. Elders and caregivers with MCI focused predominantly on cultural anchoring and intergenerational affection, with few references to civic or abstract themes. Non-MCI participants extended their narratives to include civic consciousness and broader cultural reflection. Depressive symptoms again narrowed thematic engagement: those at risk concentrated almost exclusively on cultural anchoring and pragmatic concerns, whereas non-depressed participants drew on all four thematic areas, including nostalgia, civic pride, and affectionate family bonds.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eComparative synthesis.\u003c/b\u003e Taken together, the two datasets point to a consistent pattern: cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms narrow the thematic and emotional scope of engagement, while cognitively intact and non-depressed participants demonstrate greater thematic diversity and stronger resonance with symbolic, nostalgic, and relational meanings. What differs between sites is the texture of expression: NSM participants, prompted by science- and technology-oriented exhibits, tended to balance pragmatic and cultural reflections, whereas Museum Siam participants generated more narrative-rich and relational storytelling\u0026mdash;even when narrowed by impairment or mood symptoms.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDyadic Storytelling at NSM\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnalysis of the 16 NSM caregiver\u0026ndash;elder dyads (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;32) revealed a spectrum of narrative alignments, ranging from strongly shared meanings to divergent but complementary interpretations. Using thematic coding, dyads were classified as matched when both caregiver and elder anchored their narratives in similar symbolic domains, mismatched when narratives diverged to different thematic poles, and partially matched when some overlap was present but emphases diverged.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOverall, 7 dyads were matched, 8 mismatched, and 1 partially matched. Matched pairs frequently shared themes of cultural anchoring (e.g., Thai silk, vernacular crafts), nostalgia for childhood and family life, and intergenerational affection. For example, in Dyad NSM-C/E-001 both caregiver and elder described the silk exhibit as a proud reminder of Thai heritage, with the elder adding a sense of intergenerational continuity: \u0026ldquo;I am proud that the younger generation still knows our roots\u0026rdquo;.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn contrast, mismatched dyads typically reflected different interpretive lenses: caregivers often emphasized learning, technology, or health literacy, while elders foregrounded heritage, relational meaning, or civic values. For instance, in Dyad NSM-C/E-014, the caregiver highlighted the telescope exhibit as a tool for \u0026ldquo;seeing the unseen\u0026rdquo; and scientific curiosity, whereas the elder imagined the serenity of a Thai house as a symbol of well-being and calm. These divergences were not experienced as conflict but rather as parallel framings that enriched the collective storytelling encounter.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePartial matches often combined practical health or learning reflections with more affective or socio-emotional tones. In Dyad NSM-C/E-005, the caregiver recalled the use of charcoal for household and health purposes, while the elder reminisced about the warmth of family meals and the role of grandparents in silk-making. Both evoked \u0026ldquo;home,\u0026rdquo; but through different textures of memory and meaning.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTaken together, the NSM dataset illustrates how intergenerational visits can elicit multiple co-existing narratives: caregivers gravitating toward knowledge acquisition and contemporary application, elders emphasizing continuity, identity, and family bonds. The result is a dialogic storytelling space, where mismatches are as generative as matches, offering opportunities for empathy, reflection, and mutual learning.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDyadic Storytelling at Museum Siam\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnalysis of the 16 elder\u0026ndash;caregiver dyads (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;32) at Museum Siam revealed that the exhibition setting strongly invited dialogic storytelling rooted in shared cultural identity and personal memory. Dyads were again classified as matched, mismatched, or partially matched, according to the thematic alignment of their narratives.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOf the 16 dyads, 4 demonstrated matched storytelling, in which both elder and caregiver emphasized the same symbolic anchors\u0026mdash;typically cultural anchoring and civic consciousness. For example, in Dyad MS-C/E-003, both members described the \u0026ldquo;Thai Since Birth\u0026rdquo; gallery as affirming national heritage, with the caregiver noting its relevance for youth identity and the elder reflecting on continuity across generations: \u0026ldquo;This reminds us that we are Thai since birth\u0026rdquo;.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe majority of dyads, however, showed mismatched storytelling (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12). In these cases, elders and caregivers brought complementary but distinct interpretive frames to the same exhibits. Caregivers often highlighted learning, moral lessons, or contemporary application, while elders narrated from a position of nostalgia, embodied memory, or intergenerational affection. For instance, in Dyad MS-C/E-011, the caregiver focused on civic duty reflected in the exhibit, while the elder described childhood memories of temple fairs and parental teachings. Rather than creating tension, such divergences enriched intergenerational dialogue, layering moral, affective, and cultural dimensions into the shared visit.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnlike at the NSM, mismatches at Museum Siam did not emphasize technological versus heritage divides, but instead revealed multiplicity within cultural memory itself. Elders often narrated from lived experience of the past, while caregivers projected contemporary responsibilities and aspirations onto the same symbols. This interplay underscores how family identity is co-constructed in cultural spaces, even when interpretive emphases diverge.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAcross all dyads, quotations revealed that mismatched narratives often prompted further conversation and curiosity rather than silence. For example, in Dyad MS-C/E-014, the caregiver described lessons of \u0026ldquo;responsibility to the nation,\u0026rdquo; while the elder reminisced about grandparents\u0026rsquo; ways of teaching morality in daily life. The dialogue illustrates how parallel stories intersect to produce intergenerational empathy.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTaken together, Museum Siam dyads demonstrate that the power of cultural exhibits lies not in unifying interpretation but in stimulating diverse, layered storytelling. Whereas NSM elicited sharper contrasts between knowledge and heritage, Museum Siam narratives revolved around shared cultural symbols with intergenerationally distinct inflections. This suggests that museum-based dyadic engagement can operate as a relational platform for both empathy and difference, deepening understanding across generations.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis comparative study demonstrates how two museums\u0026mdash;NSM and Museum Siam\u0026mdash;function as therapeutic places that activate autobiographical and embodied memory, fostering emotional well-being, intergenerational dialogue, and cultural continuity. Four thematic patterns consistently emerged across sites: Cultural Anchoring, Civic Consciousness, Nostalgia of Childhood, and Intergenerational Affection. These themes highlight the capacity of museums to elicit deeply personal yet socially shared forms of remembering, positioning them as relational spaces that extend beyond education to psychosocial care.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt the NSM, thematic engagement varied by cognitive and affective status. Participants without MCI or depressive symptoms displayed broader thematic diversity, including future-oriented and civic reflections. By contrast, those with MCI or depression concentrated more narrowly on family ties and health literacy. This echoes evidence that cognitive [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e] and affective vulnerability constrain the range of autobiographical memory retrieval [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e], yet also shows how targeted exhibits can still evoke meaningful embodied responses [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt Museum Siam, analysis of elder\u0026ndash;caregiver dyads revealed that storytelling was rarely uniform but instead layered and complementary. Congruent narratives emphasized shared cultural pride, while divergent narratives juxtaposed embodied nostalgia with pragmatic learning or responsibility. Rather than conflict, these differences enriched intergenerational remembering by creating dialogic space between generations [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR29\" citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e]. This contrasts with the NSM\u0026rsquo;s more individually structured narratives, underscoring how relational design in heritage museums fosters collective meaning-making.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese findings extend prior arts-and-health research [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e] by showing how museums can activate both autobiographical and embodied memory in diverse populations. While much of the literature focuses on Western, group-based interventions [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e], this study demonstrates the value of individualized, participant-led photo-elicitation in a non-Western context, with systematic comparisons by cognitive and affective status. In doing so, it advances understanding of museums as place-based infrastructures of health and social connection.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec17\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eImplications for Practice\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe evidence suggests museums can be integrated into cultural social prescribing, occupational therapy, and caregiver programs. By designing interventions that prompt photo-elicitation and storytelling, museums may foster resilience, empathy, and memory preservation for older adults, while simultaneously providing caregivers with opportunities for reflective dialogue. These findings align with WHO\u0026rsquo;s Healthy Ageing framework [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e] and recent calls for expanding community-based infrastructures for mental health [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR31\" citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec18\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eLimitations and Future Directions\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a pilot study, the sample size was modest, limiting generalizability. Participants were urban and culturally homogeneous, and neurophysiological measures were not included. Future research should test this protocol longitudinally, across diverse populations, and with multimodal outcomes (e.g., heart rate variability) to examine how embodied memory mechanisms operate in museum contexts. Dyadic storytelling deserves further exploration, particularly around mismatched narratives, which may reveal deeper dynamics of relational empathy and caregiving strain.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eMuseums can be reframed as therapeutic landscapes where cultural engagement supports autobiographical and embodied memory, enhances intergenerational empathy, and contributes to healthy ageing. By situating memory and emotion in place, these findings highlight the potential of museums not only as cultural institutions but as integral components of health-promoting community infrastructure\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorld Health Organization, 2022. A toolkit on how to implement social prescribing. WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/363725\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFancourt D., Finn S., 2020. 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ICOFOM Study Ser. 48(1). https://doi.org/10.4000/iss.1950\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreen M.C., Brock T.C., 2000. The role of transportation in the persuasiveness of public narratives. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 79(5), 701\u0026ndash;721. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.79.5.701\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhite S.C., 2017. Relational wellbeing: Re-centring the politics of happiness, policy and the self. Policy Polit. 45(2), 121\u0026ndash;136. https://doi.org/10.1332/030557317X14866576265970\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNational Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP), 2023. Social prescribing around the world: A world map of global developments in social prescribing. https://coilink.org/20.500.12592/hcjr9h\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePercival A., Newton C., Mulligan K., et al., 2022. Systematic review of social prescribing and older adults: Where to from here? Fam. Med. 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A review of emotional design in extended reality for the preservation of cultural heritage. NPJ Herit. Sci. 13, 86. https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-025-01625-x\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eXu Z., Sun D., Xia G., Wang S., 2025. Exploring emotional and cognitive engagement with holographic displays in museums. ACM J. Comput. Cult. Herit. https://doi.org/10.1145/3736772\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoh M., Weon S., 2022. Living arrangement and life satisfaction of the elderly in South Korea. Soc. Indic. Res. 160, 717\u0026ndash;734. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-020-02443-3\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCohen G.D., 2006. Research on creativity and aging: The positive impact of the arts on health and illness. Gener. 30(1), 7\u0026ndash;15.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJelinčić D.A., \u0026Scaron;veb M., 2021. Financial sustainability of cultural heritage: A review of crowdfunding in Europe. J. Risk Financ. Manag. 14(3), 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm14030101\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[{"identity":"f92c5a6c-a4ae-4aeb-ae55-82f67943f9c5","identifier":"10.13039/501100004704","name":"National Research Council of Thailand","awardNumber":"N84A680470","order_by":0}],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Mahidol University","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"autobiographical memory, embodied memory, intergenerational remembering, narrative methods, museum engagement, healthy ageing","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7768231/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7768231/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study examined how two Thai museums\u0026mdash;the National Science Museum (NSM) and Museum Siam\u0026mdash;function as therapeutic places that activate autobiographical and embodied memory, supporting emotional well-being and intergenerational connection. Sixty-four participants (32 older adults and 32 caregivers) engaged in a photo-elicitation protocol, photographing exhibits and narrating reflections. Thematic analysis identified four recurring themes: Cultural Anchoring, Civic Consciousness, Nostalgia of Childhood, and Intergenerational Affection. At the NSM, participants without mild cognitive impairment or depressive symptoms expressed broader thematic diversity, including future-oriented reflections, whereas those with cognitive impairment or depression engaged more narrowly with health literacy and family-related themes. At Museum Siam, dyadic analysis highlighted both congruent and divergent storytelling, with differences enriching intergenerational remembering rather than producing conflict. Emotional expressions such as gratitude, nostalgia, and pride demonstrated how museums serve as relational spaces of memory, empathy, and shared reflection. Findings position museums as culturally grounded infrastructures for social prescribing, fostering resilience, autobiographical memory, and intergenerational solidarity within ageing societies.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Cognition, Care, and Cultural Place-Making: Narrative Responses Across Two Museum Settings","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-10-03 09:11:15","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7768231/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"b4b59cb4-e92d-432f-9519-9a41fde9bd52","owner":[],"postedDate":"October 3rd, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":55684433,"name":"Integrative \u0026 Complementary Medicine"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-10-03T09:11:15+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-10-03 09:11:15","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7768231","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7768231","identity":"rs-7768231","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}