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Examining Changes in HRV and Emotion Following Artmaking with Three Different Art Materials
Published on: January 11, 2020
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Creating arts and crafting positively predicts subjective wellbeing
Helen Keyes1, Sarah Gradidge1, Suzanna Elizabeth Forwood1
1Applied Social Change Hub, School of Psychology and Sport Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in Public Health
|September 2, 2024
Summary
Engaging in Creating Arts and Crafting (CAC) significantly boosts happiness and life satisfaction. This accessible activity offers a valuable public health tool for enhancing subjective wellbeing.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Subjective wellbeing and loneliness are crucial aspects of public health.
- Understanding predictors of wellbeing beyond sociodemographics is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if engagement in Creating Arts and Crafting (CAC) predicts subjective wellbeing and loneliness.
- To determine if CAC's influence extends beyond established sociodemographic factors.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of secondary data from 7,182 English adults (Taking Part Survey, 2019-2020).
- Hierarchical Linear regressions were employed to assess CAC's predictive effect on wellbeing and loneliness.
- Covariates included Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), gender, age, health, and employment status.
Main Results:
- Creating Arts and Crafting (CAC) engagement significantly predicted increased happiness.
- CAC engagement was also linked to higher life satisfaction and a greater sense that life is worthwhile.
- These positive effects were observed independently of sociodemographic predictors.
Conclusions:
- The study supports the wellbeing benefits of engaging with creating arts and crafting.
- CAC is a potentially valuable public health intervention due to its relative accessibility and affordability.
- Promoting CAC engagement may enhance population-level subjective wellbeing.
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