People who have interests and hobbies are almost never bored - and that can help them fight depression.
Scientists have discovered that hobbies positively impact our mental health way more than you might think.
Let's find out why you should have a new hobby.
A new study on positive impact of hobbies
A new study led by researchers at UCL found that having a hobby can lead to fewer feelings of sadness and more happiness, better self-reported health, and greater life satisfaction for people aged 65 and over.
This was true in 16 different countries across three continents.
The study looked at data from 93,263 people aged 65 or older who participated in five long-term studies in countries like England, Japan, the United States, China, and 12 European countries.
More about the study
The researchers examined data over four to eight years and discovered that having a hobby was linked to lower levels of feeling sad and higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction.
This suggests that having a hobby might have a positive impact, although the study couldn't prove it directly since it was observational.
These findings remained consistent even after considering other factors like whether people were in a relationship, working, or their income.
The benefits of having a hobby were similar across different countries, with only small differences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, having a hobby appears to have positive effects on the mental and emotional well-being of older people across different countries and cultures.
It suggests that encouraging hobbies in older individuals can promote their overall well-being and health.
