Spending time on personal hobbies makes one happier

Question

This claim is made by the site Head to Health, which is a mental health and care website created by the Australian government for aged care. I believe this claim to be true, and a quote from the cite says, "Research shows that participating or viewing artistic activities can enhance your mental health and provide personal meaning." While the website doesn't reference a specific cite where the research can be found, there has been lots of outside research done on this topic, which is what leads me to believe it's true. Also, the cite itself is posted by a government organization which helps its credibility.

Comments

I think it could be helpful to speak more about atleast one other specific site that is another criedble source speaking on this topic.

---

I checked out your source on this claim and it seems to be legitimate. I also researched some other sources that also backed up your claim. According to Harvard business Review they also found that by spending more time on your hobbies you can be happier. "We need to prioritize our hobbies just as much as we prioritize work, because hobbies — they make us better people," -H.B.R.

https://hbr.org/2021/10/can-hobbies-actually-make-you-a-better-person

---

This is a good start but I would recommend finding some other sources to back up your claim. This fact-check does a good job of explaining the quotes and how they correlate.

---

I think a second legitimate source could really improve your fact check, but this is a great start.

---

I think it'd be important to better define what a personal hobby actually is, in addition to defining happiness if possible.

Answer 1

The original claim is that “Spending time on personal hobbies makes one happier.” After a thorough search, I found multiple sources to support that this claim is true. One of the sources I found was a WebMD article that was medically reviewed by Dr. Sachdev, this article stated that having a hobby can improve your mental health. Another source I found was an article from Vibrant Life which stated that “people who engage in hobbies enjoy better moods, feel more interested, and have less stress and lower heart rates—even hours after the recreation time.” which originally came from a research done in 2015 which was produced by The Society of Behavioral Medicine which is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to promote research in the field of behavioral medicine. Based on these sources it’s clear that this statement is somewhat true because each of these articles/studies states how participating in hobbies you find enjoyable can reduce your stress which leads to boosting your happiness.

Sources: https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-hobbies https://lifeandhealth.org/lifestyle/how-hobbies-make-you-happier-and-healthier/1411136.html https://www.ucmerced.edu/sites/ucmerced.edu/files/documents/zawadzki-paper-2015.pdf

Comments

Nice work finding more than one source to support your fact-check and citing them within the text.

---

Wonderful job with this fact-check. I appreciated your use of evidence and quotes to back up the claim. Overall I think you did an incredible job, you gave multiple sources and provided ample evidence.

---

This is a great fact-check. There is background information about the credibility of the sources used to back up the initial claim and solid evidence included.

---

This is an amazing fact check, you used multiple sources and gave good evidence.

---

Very well done fact check, It is clear and concise with good use of multiple sources to help readers make educated decisions.

---

I agree with this claim. I also found a research conducted by Harvard Medical school to support this stance on the claim above. You're evidence was concise and relevant to the case.

---

Great job finding more than one source to back up your claim!

---

Amazing job being thorough with your research. It gave me everything I needed to know to see if the claim was true or not.

Answer 2

This claim for the most part is true. I went to the original site (https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/living-well/purposeful-activity)

They referenced an article that was an academic review of all the research on this topic. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804629/). Mostly, the study talks about multiple studies done with patients and music. The site that you reference seems to be pretty reliable.  It is a government source with no history of posting false information. These studies reported that people were more calm after listening to music. In general, the conclusion of this review seemed to be that viewing or listening to artistic acts can improve your relaxation. However, they were not talking about hobbies in general, specifically artistic ones. Additionally, most of these studies were done in a controlled study group, meaning about 20-30 minutes of listening or viewing media. Therefore although this general statement has some small caveats, for the most part, it is true.

Comments

You tagged your fact check as true, but mentioned that the study actually is about the effects of music and art rather than hobbies. Wouldn't it be more accurate for this to be tagged as misleading? Listening to music and creating visual art can be hobbies, but it's not the same as saying all hobbies will have the same ability as the two tested on.

---

This is true, most evidence points towards increasing levels of relaxation- which in turn can potentially lead to greater overall happiness. However, some of the claim is a bit of a stretch/assumption about how lower stress levels then contribute to mental wellbeing.

---

This is a good analysis. I like you dived deeper into the research and found that they were mostly talking about artistic hobbies and not all hobbies, although after looking into other sources I found that all hobbies have some sort of proven research to make you happier. The article is slightly misleading though as they are only talking about artistic/creative hobbies.

Answer 3

After doing some outside research, I believe this claim to be true, to an extent. According to WebMD, "research shows that when you take time to do activities that make you happy, it helps improve mental health." Harvard Medical School also did a study on hobbies tied to happiness and well-being. They released a statement saying that "the study [was] observational and [didn't] prove that hobbies caused people to be healthy and happy. But the researchers [said] hobbies — such as arts and crafts, games, gardening, volunteering, or participating in clubs — involve creativity, sensory engagement, self-expression, relaxation, and cognitive stimulation, which are linked to good mental health and well-being."

Links to sources ---> https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-hobbies AND https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/having-a-hobby-tied-to-happiness-and-well-being

Comments

I like that you were clear about the claim being true, but to an extent. The reason for that was expanded on in your answer, as you have credible sources that you got your information from, especially from the Harvard Medical School. The claim still seems to be sort of up in the air in regard to while yes, the claim can be true, but the information from the original claim is still vague. Great fact check.

---

Very well worded response, I like that you referenced multiple sources and added the dialogue between the two sources.

---

Great post! Loved the multiple sources that are very accredited and trusted. You also provided solid information that got straight to the point.

Answer 4

Head to Health provided aa good description of the claim provided, and information that would lead me to believe this claim is true. I also did my own research, and found that a study across three countries ld by the Department of Psychology's Dr. Paul Hanel discovered people who prioritized achievement over enjoyment were less happy on the next day, whereas those who aimed for freedom said reported a 13% increase in well-being, better sleep quality, and life satisfaction. Another article I found claims that acitvities such as hiking and cooking lead to less stress and better self esteem. All of which make people happier. All in all, I would say this claim is correct.

https://hbr.org/2021/10/can-hobbies-actually-make-you-a-better-person

https://neurosciencenews.com/hedonism-happiness-achievement-23923/#:~:text=Engaging%20in%20hobbies%20and%20relaxation,self%2Ddirection%27%20increase%20happiness.

Answer 5

After further investigation of different sites, this claim does issue to be mostly true. According to Life and Health Network website where they analyzed a study of people engaging in hobbies, "[people] enjoy better moods, feel more interested, and have less stress and lower heart rates--even hours after the recreation time" (Vibrant Life). People want to feel engaged and excited when doing something and that is through their hobbies. Another article explains how hobbies can improve mental health. A website from Utah State University that was published by a professor says, "Some mental health benefits of hobbies include: reduced stress, enhanced well-being, improved social connections, reduced blood pressure" (Parkhurst). These benefits to a hobby are true but the question is, "what constitutes a healthy hobby?" This single question is what makes this claim tricky to answer because in both articles they go over what healthy hobbies are which can improve your life. Whether that is playing sports or reading which are considered healthy hobbies. If it's just watching something on TV for hours it could be seen as unproductive but something you enjoy. So in the end this claim remains true up to a certain extent. 

https://lifeandhealth.org/lifestyle/how-hobbies-make-you-happier-and-healthier/1411136.html

https://extension.usu.edu/mentalhealth/articles/how-hobbies-improve-mental-health

Answer 6

In an article published by Birch Psychology, titled "Hobbies for Happiness!", a hobby is described as a way to boost self-esteem. The article points out that the feeling of success and pride in one's abilities releases hormones like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, ultimately resulting in happiness. A fulfilling skill gives people reasons to stay motivated and passionate. In a study conducted by the Society of Behavioral Medicine, it is evident that "people who take part in leisure activities have fewer negative emotions and are less stressed." The study also found that heart rates lower when engaging in a hobby. So, yes, there is proof to support the claim that hobbies can increase one's happiness. 

https://www.birchpsychology.com/birchs-blog/2023/4/30/hobbies-for-happiness#:~:text=Having%20a%20hobby%20along%20these,commitment%20to%20a%20chosen%20activity.

https://hbr.org/2021/10/can-hobbies-actually-make-you-a-better-person

Answer 7

"Spending time on personal hobbies makes one happier" This claim was made by Department of Health and Aged Care: Australia Government in regards to individuals mental health.

Nature Medicine published a study done by researches in September 2023 with supporting evidence that having a hobby will increase your mental and physical health. A team of researchers conducted five large studies with 93,000 people throughout 16 countries, the age group of the people was 65 or older. Throughout the course of 4-8 years the individuals would answer various questions about physical and mental health. The research showed that the people with hobbies vs the people without had less depression, fewer anxiety symptoms and overall more satisfied with life.

With the research and evidence above. I believe this claim to be true. I have found no evidence or information saying that having a hobby will negatively impact your health.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/having-a-hobby-tied-to-happiness-and-well-being#:~:text=Compared%20with%20people%20who%20didn,were%20similar%20across%20all%20countries.

Answer 8

After looking into the source provided and doing my own online research I found this claim to be true. Many sources wrote that hobbies help us reinforce our identity. A quote from Lighthouse Allied Health states that "not having a hobby will make you lose touch with yourself, and as a result of this you will be investing your time into unfulfilling activities and generally, you’ll be much more unhappy." Many of these websites claim that hobbies make you happier and healthier. Harvard Health Publishing writes "compared with people who didn't have hobbies, those who did reported better health, more happiness, fewer symptoms of depression, and higher life satisfaction."

Sources:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/having-a-hobby-tied-to-happiness-and-well-being#:~:text=Compared%20with%20people%20who%20didn,were%20similar%20across%20all%20countries.

https://www.health.gov.au/

https://lifeandhealth.org/lifestyle/how-hobbies-make-you-happier-and-healthier/1411136.html

https://lighthousealliedhealth.com.au/the-dangers-of-not-having-a-hobby/#:~:text=You%20will%20become%20more%20stressed,focus%20on%20less%20meaningful%20activities.

Answer 9

While I was unable to find who the original person who said spending time on one's personal hobbies makes one happier. I did find that this study/claim is correct. Connect Health and Immunity stated, "Research shows that people with hobbies are less likely to suffer from low moods, stress and depression." WebMD also shared that spending time doing hobbies increases your mental health. Through finding multiple sources, it is clear that the claim that spending time doing personal hobbies improves your mood is correct.

https://connecthealth.org.au/enews/pursuing-a-hobby-can-improve-your-mental-health/#:~:text=Research%20shows%20that%20people%20with,yourself%20after%20a%20busy%20day.

https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-hobbies

Answer 10

The claim that spending time on hobbies makes a person happy seems to be true. After reading the original claim and conducting research, I found multiple sources that back this statement. WebMD said "A study in New Zealand found that participating in activities that bring out your creative side leads to an increased sense of well-being that is good for you in the long term. The people who were involved in the study felt a sense of positivity and upliftment after a few days of creative activity." Another article named How Hobbies Make You Happier and Healthier said, "One study showed that people who engage in hobbies enjoy better moods, feel more interested, and have less stress and lower heart rates—even hours after the recreation time." Just after this very quick research, it is evident and true that hobbies can make one happier. 

- https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-hobbies

- https://lifeandhealth.org/lifestyle/how-hobbies-make-you-happier-and-healthier/1411136.html