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The Benefits of Hobbies for Older Adults: A Global Perspective

The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, aimed to see if the benefits of hobbies were consistent in different national settings. The researchers analyzed data from 93,263 people aged 65 or over who had enrolled in five existing longitudinal studies in England, Japan, United States, China, and 12 other European countries.

Initially, the study found that having a hobby was linked to improved mental health and wellbeing in older adults. However, as an observational study, it could not prove causality. To further investigate, the researchers analyzed data spanning four to eight years and found that having a hobby was also associated with subsequent decreases in depressive symptoms and increases in happiness and life satisfaction.

It is important to note that these results remained significant even after adjusting for other factors such as partnership status, employment, and household income.

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The study found that the benefits of having a hobby were relatively universal, with only minor differences between countries. Lead author Dr. Karen Mak from UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care stated that hobbies have the potential to protect older people from age-related decline in mental health and wellbeing. This potential is consistent across many countries and cultural settings.

Out of the four outcomes studied, life satisfaction was found to be most strongly linked to hobby engagement. Engaging in hobbies may contribute to life satisfaction in later years through various mechanisms, including feeling in control of one’s mind and body, finding purpose in life, and feeling competent in handling daily issues.

The study also suggested that the relationship between hobbies and wellbeing may work both ways. Individuals with better mental health may be more likely to take up a hobby, and persisting with a hobby may help retain improved life satisfaction.

Based on these findings, the research supports policymakers in promoting access to hobbies among older people as a way to enhance their wellbeing and health. Hobbies, defined as activities individuals engage in during their leisure time for pleasure, can range from volunteering or being part of a club to reading, gardening, playing games, and arts and crafts.

The study found that the proportion of people who reported having a hobby varied considerably between countries. Spain had the lowest percentage, with only 51% of study participants reporting having a hobby, compared to 96% in Denmark, 95.8% in Sweden, and 94.4% in Switzerland.

China had the lowest level of hobby engagement, with only 37.6% of respondents reporting social hobbies. However, it’s essential to note that this study in China only focused on social hobbies and not hobbies in general.

Additionally, the researchers observed a correlation between better life expectancy and national happiness levels with higher rates of hobby engagement. Furthermore, the link between wellbeing and having a hobby was stronger in countries with better life expectancy and national happiness levels.

Overall, this study highlights the significant benefits of hobbies for older adults’ mental health and wellbeing across different countries. Governments and organizations can leverage these findings to prioritize and promote access to hobbies among older populations. By encouraging and facilitating hobby engagement, policymakers can contribute to enhancing the overall quality of life for older adults.

Reference: Mak HW, Noguchi T, Bone JK, et al. Hobby engagement and mental wellbeing among people aged 65 years and older in 16 countries. Nat Med. 2023. doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02506-1

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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