Arts and crafts can improve your mental health at least as much as having a job, scientists say

Could arts and crafts help protect people’s mental health? New study suggests The Frontiers of Public Health demonstrates that unleashing our creativity could significantly improve everyone’s well-being. Since arts and crafts are relatively affordable and accessible, promoting public access to artistic activities could contribute greatly to the mental health of the population.

“Crafts and other artistic activities showed a significant effect in predicting people’s sense of value in life,” said Dr Helen Keyes of Anglia Ruskin University, lead author of the study. “Indeed, the impact of crafts was greater than that of having a job. Crafts not only give us a sense of accomplishment, but also provide a meaningful means of self-expression. This is not always the case with a job.”

A point in time

Scientists have been inspired by the urgent need to improve public mental health in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Any measures that can improve levels of well-being and reduce levels of loneliness in the general population would have significant benefits.

Some studies have already shown that some craft activities can have therapeutic effects for people suffering from mental health disorders. If the practice of crafts in general has a positive impact on the well-being of people without a diagnosed illness, promoting the accessibility of crafts could contribute significantly to the mental health of the population.

The scientists analysed a sample of 7,182 respondents to the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s annual Taking Part survey, which assesses public engagement in cultural, digital and sporting activities. The large sample allowed the scientists to study the impact of the creative arts in general rather than specific occupations, and helped them assess the effectiveness of arts-based interventions beyond a controlled clinical setting.

The scientists controlled for socio-demographic variables that we already know influence the experience of well-being: gender, age group, health, employment status and level of deprivation. For example, poor health, unemployment and higher levels of deprivation were all associated with lower well-being.

Paint a picture

All participants were asked to rate their feelings of happiness, anxiety, and life satisfaction, and to give their impression of the value of life. They were also asked how often they felt lonely. When asked about their engagement in crafts, 37.4% of respondents confirmed that they had participated in at least one craft activity in the past twelve months.

People who participated in arts and crafts reported being happier and more satisfied with their lives, as well as feeling that life is worth living. Feeling that life is worth living is as important as having a job. However, engagement in arts and crafts did not predict levels of loneliness. This may be because some arts activities can be solitary: further research is needed to explore the social aspects of arts and crafts activities.

“Participating in these activities is associated with an increased sense of life value, greater satisfaction and greater happiness,” Keyes said. “The effects on well-being were present even after controlling for factors such as employment status and level of deprivation. It seems that crafts can contribute positively to your well-being above and beyond these other aspects of your life.”

Although these effects are small, their magnitude is similar to that of sociodemographic variables, which are much more difficult to modify. Harnessing the positive effects of artistic activities therefore offers a significant opportunity to improve the well-being of the population.

“Governments and national health services could consider funding and promoting crafts, or even socially prescribing these activities to at-risk populations, as part of a promotion and prevention approach to wellbeing and mental health,” Keyes said.

“There’s definitely something immensely satisfying about seeing the results of your work appear before your eyes,” added Keyes, who enjoys DIY, particularly painting and decorating. “It’s nice to focus on a single task and engage your mind in a creative way.”

Scientists stressed, however, that this was a correlational study. Further research will be needed to confirm the cause-and-effect link.

“We can’t know for sure whether crafting directly causes this increase in well-being,” Keyes said. “The next step would be to conduct an experimental study in which we measure people’s well-being before and after significant periods of crafting.”