Gaby
Researchers recommend taking steps now to improve future well-being by choosing hobbies that bring enjoyment, whether you do them alone or with others. Studies find that people over 65 who have a favorite pastime feel healthier, happier, and more satisfied with life — and they show fewer signs of depression.
People with Hobbies Are Happier Than Those Without
Hobbies can bring joy and purpose. Improving skills can empower older adults and give them a stronger sense of control over daily life.
A hobby can be almost anything you do for fun, alone or with others. Options range from reading and solving crosswords to volunteering or joining a social club.
The findings come from an analysis of 93,263 people aged 65 and older who took part in national surveys across 13 European countries, the U.S., China, and Japan. Respondents were asked over several years whether they currently had a hobby or had one in the past, and were later asked about their well-being as part of a long-term aging study.
Approximately 78% of survey participants reported having a hobby, and they were more likely to say they felt happy the previous day, had a higher level of life satisfaction, and were more likely to report that they were in good or excellent health. In fact, hobbyists reported better health than those without hobbies, even after accounting for existing physical ailments.
The study indicates that having a hobby made respondents feel healthier, even when they were unwell. Additionally, those with hobbies showed fewer signs of depression on a brief questionnaire that asked about feelings of loneliness, sadness, and hopelessness.
Any Hobby Is Beneficial and Enhances Life Satisfaction
In the English survey, participants were not asked about their hobbies. However, in the comprehensive study involving people from all continents, respondents were asked whether they engaged in various hobbies such as reading, playing chess, solving word and number puzzles, gardening, joining sports and social clubs, and participating in charitable activities.
Those who reported these hobbies internationally also generally had better health, happiness, and life satisfaction. They also exhibited fewer symptoms of depression—both among retirees and those still in the workforce. That suggests having a hobby can help reduce stress. This remained true after considering other factors that might influence life satisfaction, including financial circumstances and employment.
It’s quite possible that happier individuals tend to have hobbies rather than the other way around. However, the analysis suggested that people who reported a hobby at one survey were more likely to report better well-being in later surveys.
Lead researcher Karen Mack says doctors sometimes recommend activities like dancing, painting, crafting, or spending time outdoors to improve physical and mental health. The hobby research suggests that kind of advice could help some people.
Mack says improving skills in a hobby can empower people, giving them greater control over daily life and a stronger sense of purpose.
A Healthy Lifestyle Also Fights Depression
Research shows smoking more than doubles the risk of being hospitalized for depression. A study of 337,140 Britons compared current smokers with those who had never smoked.
Among men who currently smoke, 8.5% were hospitalized for depression, compared to just 3.5% of men who had never smoked. Among women, 13.2% of smokers were hospitalized for depression, compared to 5.9% of those who had never smoked.
The study found that people typically start smoking before the age of 20 but do not end up hospitalized for depression until they are between 30 and 60 years old. Professor Doug Speed pointed out that smoking often precedes mental health issues—indeed, long before they manifest. It’s unclear why, but it may be that smoking causes inflammation in the brain or that nicotine interferes with the neurotransmitter serotonin, leading to disorders like depression over the long term.
Another study showed that a healthy lifestyle is crucial for preventing depression—regardless of an individual’s genetic risk. Quality sleep lasting 7–9 hours per night was associated with a 22% lower risk of depression in a sample of nearly 290,000 people.
Another study found that frequent social connections, such as meeting with friends and family, were associated with an 18% reduction in the risk of declining mental health. Abstaining from or moderating alcohol reduced depression risk by 11%, healthy eating by 6%, and regular physical activity by 14%.
Professor Barbara Saakyan says a healthy lifestyle may be vital for better mental health. Good sleep, socializing with friends, and having hobbies are relatively simple things that can truly change people’s lives for the better.
