UK (Commonwealth Union) – Engaging in a hobby has been associated with reduced depressive symptoms and elevated levels of happiness, self-reported health, and life satisfaction among individuals aged 65 and above. Remarkably, this positive correlation extends consistently across 16 countries spanning three continents, as unveiled by a recent study led by researchers from the University College London (UCL).
Published in the journal Nature Medicine, the study sought to examine whether the advantages of hobbies remained consistent in diverse national contexts. It delved into data encompassing 93,263 individuals aged 65 or older, drawn from five ongoing longitudinal studies conducted in England, Japan, the United States, China, and 12 additional European nations.
The research team analyzed data spanning four to eight years and observed that the pursuit of hobbies was associated with subsequent reductions in depressive symptoms and increases in happiness and life satisfaction. This suggests a potential causal relationship, although researchers stressed that it’s important to note that as an observational study, it cannot definitively establish causality. Importantly, these findings held true even after accounting for other influencing factors such as partnership status, employment, and household income. Interestingly, the study revealed that the benefits of having a hobby were fairly consistent across different countries, with only minor variations observed.
Dr. Karen Mak, the lead author from the UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, indicated that their study highlights the potential of hobbies to serve as a protective factor against age-related declines in mental health and overall well-being among older individuals. This potential benefit remains consistent across numerous countries and diverse cultural settings.
He said, “Of the four outcomes, life satisfaction was most strongly linked to hobby engagement. Hobbies may contribute to life satisfaction in our later years through many mechanisms, including feeling in control of our minds and bodies, finding a purpose in life, and feeling competent in tackling daily issues. Theoretical work suggests the relationship between hobbies and wellbeing may cut both ways – that people with better mental health may be more likely to take up a hobby, and persisting with a hobby may help us to retain improved life satisfaction”.
Hobbies, defined as enjoyable leisure activities individuals engage in during their free time, encompass a broad spectrum, ranging from volunteering or joining clubs to reading, gardening, playing games, and pursuing arts and crafts.
The researchers uncovered considerable variations in the prevalence of hobbies among different countries. For instance, in Spain, 51% of study participants reported having a hobby, while in Denmark, an impressive 96% indicated engagement in hobbies. High rates of hobby involvement were also observed in Sweden at 95.8% and Switzerland at 94.4%. Notably, China had the lowest level of hobby engagement, at 37.6%. However, it’s important to note that in the case of China, respondents were specifically asked about social hobbies, not hobbies in a broader sense.
Furthermore, the study identified a correlation between higher life expectancy, national happiness levels, and increased hobby participation. Interestingly, in countries with better life expectancy and higher levels of national happiness, a stronger link was observed between well-being and the presence of a hobby. Many researchers throughout the years have also pointed out how senior citizens having closer family ties live longer compared to those in isolation.
The research hinged on data from five longitudinal studies, namely the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES), the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Notably, the definition of hobbies and the manner of inquiry varied across these studies, with some using open-ended questions and others providing a specific list of hobbies.
Funding support for this study was provided by Wellcome, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Belgian National Scientific Fund, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
