Study Links Arts and Crafts to Improved Mental Health

A study conducted by researchers from Anglia Ruskin University reveals that engaging in arts and crafts can significantly enhance mental health and life satisfaction, even surpassing the positive effects of employment. Analyzing over 7,000 responses from the UK's annual 'Taking Part' survey, researchers found that more than 37% of participants had engaged in creative activities, which correlated with improved happiness and a stronger sense of life's worth. Dr. Helen Keyes, a co-author of the study, noted that crafting provides a sense of achievement and self-expression that employment may lack. The findings suggest that promoting access to arts and crafts could serve as an effective public health measure, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. While crafting was linked to higher life satisfaction, it did not significantly reduce feelings of loneliness, possibly due to the solitary nature of some activities. Overall, the study underscores the importance of creative endeavors in enhancing well-being for the general population.