Researchers say that visiting museums can be a good long-term investment

Teenagers who visit museums or go to the theatre are more likely to become high achievers in education and work - regardless of their family background, says research.

A long-term study of the impact of how teenagers spend their leisure time has shown that exposure to culture brings a range of benefits, including higher average earnings.

It might have been expected that children from wealthier families, who were taken on cultural trips, would be more successful in later life.

But researchers have found that less well-off teenagers, who were involved in cultural activities, also followed a pattern of going onto academic and economic success.

The research, carried out by the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex, is based on the tracking of young people since 1970.

Cultural capital

Report author, Karen Robson, suggests that the reason for this link between the arts and social success is because it gives young people the language and cultural references that other people associate with affluence.

Talking about classical music or the theatre is interpreted as a sign of higher social status, regardless of the person's actual circumstances, says the report.

This interest in culture will suggest to teachers, lecturers and employers that individuals "have desirable traits that should be rewarded", says the report.

In practice, this might mean that teachers are more likely to encourage pupils who show an interest in culture towards applying to university, which translates to higher earning potentials in adulthood.

And in the workplace, a familiarity with high culture will also send signals that someone belongs in a high status job.