Arts and crafts huge mental health boost: study

By Stephen Beech via SWNS

Arts and crafts are as good for boosting mental health as having an enjoyable job, according to new research.

Taking part in creative activities boosts people’s sense that living is worthwhile as well as their happiness and satisfaction with life, say scientists.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, provides evidence that indulging our creative side could provide everyone with a significant well-being boost.

Because arts and crafts are relatively affordable and accessible, the research team say that promoting access to artistic activities could provide a "major boost" to public mental health.

Study lead author Dr. Helen Keyes, of Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, said: “Crafting and other artistic activities showed a meaningful effect in predicting people’s sense that their life is worthwhile.

"Indeed, the impact of crafting was bigger than the impact of being in employment.

"Not only does crafting give us a sense of achievement, it is also a meaningful route to self-expression. This is not always the case with employment.”

She said the research was inspired by the urgent need to improve public mental health in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previous studies have shown that specific craft activities can be therapeutic for people with mental health issues.

If taking part in arts and crafts in general has a positive impact on the well-being of people without a diagnosed illness, Dr. Keyes says promoting the accessibility of arts and crafts could contribute "significantly" to public mental health.

The researchers analyzed a sample of 7,182 participants from the annual Taking Part survey conducted by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport, which evaluates public engagement with cultural, digital and sporting activities.

The sample allowed the team to investigate the impact of creative arts generally rather than specific crafts.

All the participants were asked to rate their sensations of happiness, anxiety, and life satisfaction, and to give their impression of whether life is worthwhile. They were also asked how often they felt lonely.

When asked about their engagement with crafts, 37.4% of respondents confirmed that they had taken part in at least one craft activity over the last 12 months.

Those who took part in arts and crafts reported higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction, as well as a stronger sense that life is worthwhile.

Dr. Keyes said the boost to respondents’ sense that life is worthwhile was as "significant" as being in employment.

However, engagement with arts and crafts didn’t predict levels of loneliness.

Dr. Keyes believes that could be because some crafts can be solitary, and further research will be needed to investigate the social aspects of arts and crafts.

She said: “Engaging in these activities is linked with a greater sense that life is worthwhile, increased life satisfaction and happiness.

“The well-being effects were present even after we accounted for things like employment status and level of deprivation.

"It seems that crafting can contribute positively to your well-being above and beyond these other aspects of your life.

“Governments and national health services might consider funding and promoting crafting, or even socially prescribing these activities for at-risk populations, as part of a promotion and prevention approach to wellbeing and mental health."

Dr. Keyes, who enjoys DIY - especially painting and decorating, added: “There is certainly something immensely satisfying about seeing the results of your work appear before your eyes.

“It feels great to focus on one task and engage your mind creatively.”

But she said: “We can’t know for certain whether crafting is directly causing this increase in well-being.

“The next step would be to carry out an experimental study where we measure people’s well-being before and after significant periods of crafting.”