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CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom — Think you’re too old to pick up a coloring book? Think again! With stress and anxiety seemingly reaching a breaking point throughout society, researchers have uncovered a simple yet powerful way to boost happiness and life satisfaction: engaging in arts and crafts.
A new study published in Frontiers in Public Health reveals that people who participate in creative activities like painting, knitting, or woodworking exhibit higher levels of subjective well-being compared to those who don’t take time for some arts and crafts. The study, conducted by researchers at Anglia Ruskin University, analyzed data from over 7,000 adults living in the United Kingdom. They found that engaging in what they call “Creating Arts and Crafting” (CAC) activities significantly predicted increased life satisfaction, a greater sense that life is worthwhile, and higher levels of happiness.
What’s particularly exciting about these findings is that the positive effects of arts and crafts on well-being were observed above and beyond other well-known factors that influence happiness, such as age, gender, health, and employment status. In other words, regardless of your life circumstances or having a good-paying job, picking up a paintbrush or a pair of knitting needles could give your mood an even bigger boost!
“Crafting and other artistic activities showed a meaningful effect in predicting people’s sense that their life is worthwhile,” explains Dr. Helen Keyes of Anglia Ruskin University, the study’s lead author, in a media release. “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.”
The researchers looked at a wide range of creative activities, including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, artistic photography, filmmaking, digital art, textile crafts like embroidery and knitting, woodworking, and other crafts such as calligraphy, pottery, and jewelry-making. This broad definition of arts and crafts means that there’s likely a creative activity out there for everyone, regardless of skill level or artistic inclination.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the study is how engaging in arts and crafts compared to other factors known to influence well-being. For example, the effect of participating in creative activities on people’s sense that life is worthwhile was greater than the effect of being employed or living in a less deprived area. Similarly, the impact of arts and crafts on happiness was comparable to the effect of aging by about 20 years – a significant finding, considering that happiness tends to increase as people get older.
These results suggest that encouraging more people to engage in creative activities could substantially improve society’s overall well-being. The best part? Arts and crafts are relatively accessible and affordable compared to other potential interventions.
“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,” says Keyes, who adds she enjoys DIY projects, like painting and decorating.
“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.”
So, whether you’re a seasoned artist or have never picked up a paintbrush in your life, it might be time to give arts and crafts a try. Who knows – your next creative project could be the key to unlocking greater happiness and life satisfaction.
Paper Summary
Methodology
The researchers used data from the Taking Part Survey, an annual survey conducted by the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport. They analyzed responses from 7,182 adults living in England, looking at their engagement in various arts and crafts activities over the past 12 months. The study used statistical techniques called hierarchical linear regressions to examine how engagement in arts and crafts predicted different aspects of well-being, while controlling for other factors like age, gender, health, and employment status.
Key Results
The study found that people who engaged in arts and crafts reported higher life satisfaction, a greater sense that life is worthwhile, and increased happiness.
Interestingly, the study did not find a significant relationship between arts and crafts engagement and reduced anxiety or loneliness.
Study Limitations
The researchers acknowledge several limitations to their study. First, the list of arts and crafts activities they considered wasn’t exhaustive – there might be other creative activities that could also impact well-being. Additionally, the study was correlational, meaning it can’t prove that arts and crafts directly cause increased well-being. It’s possible that people who are already happier are more likely to engage in creative activities.
Discussion & Takeaways
The researchers suggest that arts and crafts might benefit well-being through several mechanisms:
- Inducing a state of “flow,” where people become fully immersed in an activity
- Improving self-esteem and emotion regulation
- Providing a means of authentic self-expression
They emphasize the potential of arts and crafts as a public health intervention, noting its popularity, affordability, and accessibility. The study’s authors call for increased funding and support for creative activities as a way to improve societal well-being.
Funding & Disclosures
The study doesn’t mention any specific funding sources or conflicts of interest. It was conducted by researchers affiliated with the Applied Social Change Hub at the School of Psychology and Sport Science, Anglia Ruskin University, in Cambridge, U.K.
Genealogy isn’t exactly arts and crafts but those of us who are researching our family history find happiness in discovering our roots, joy in solving family mysteries and a sense of accomplishment in being able to share what we’ve learned with those who share our interest.
The thrill of the ancestral hunt easily becomes addictive. The more you learn the more you want to find out. I can’t think of anything more challenging as it boosts happiness.
Perhaps Anglia Ruskin University researchers should have included family historians in their study.
I have been telling friends to take an art class and get engaged in something creative for years. There is a unique satisfaction in designing and making something that can be enjoyed for years. We need to spend less time on the computer and making art is an excellent alternative.