Having hobbies makes an individual happier

Question

The article claims that having multiple focus areas and hobbies makes an individual happy and improves ones mental health.

Comments

I agree with this claim presented in the statement above. After investigating the article from the link provided and reflecting on personal experiences, I believe the claim to be true. One point in the article that stood out to me was when the author mentioned that having hobbies "are satisfying, make you feel like a contributor, build your sense of self-worth." I think about all of my favorite hobbies and this is exactly how they make me feel when I do them. I always feel more productive when I get myself up and moving, rather than when I am just sitting on the couch doing nothing. An article I also found from WebMD which discussed the health benefits of hobbies pointed out "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." Both the article used in support of this claim and the one I researched shared similar takeaways and reasonings.

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

---

I agree with this claim heavily. I think every human on earth has a hobby whether big impact or small. I like the article you included it has good backing. I think hobbies are essential to creating happiness and even the economy as most jobs in the market are hobbies of the people employed in them.

---

Yes i completely agree, someone with many hobbies is going to be much happier than someone with no hobbies. Hobbies are meant for us to find a creative outlet that we ourselves find entertaining and enjoyable. These give us boosts of serotonin and something to do. Often times when people are bored they become angrier, stressed out, and sometimes a little crazy. During times in my life where I didn't have much going on to entertain myself, i found myself feeling more down. But when I have something or multiple hobbies im doing at the moment that i am able to focus on, I am much happier and have something to work on thats going to keep my brain busy. So I think everyone would greatly benefit from finding a hobby or hobbies to motivate themselves.

---

I believe that having multiple hobbies makes a person happier, I have noticed that the people around me as well as myself seem to be a lot happier when doing things we enjoy. This article does a good job explaining why it is important for people to have hobbies.

---

This article claims that "Spending time on an activity that you enjoy can improve your mental health and wellbeing." which supports the claim that "Having hobbies makes an individual happier." The article sited uses research and studies to back up their reasoning. For example research shows that people with hobbies are less likely to experience stress and depression. And hobbies that include group activities such as team sports improve your relationship with others. The article itself is published on the Head to Health website which looks to be under the Department of Health and Aged Care for the Australian Government, a reliable source.
https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/living-well/purposeful-activity#:~:text=Spending%20time%20on%20an%20activity,feel%20happier%20and%20more%20relaxed
Furthermore, there are plenty more reliable articles out there with similar claims and that have conducted research resulting in similar results. For example, Harvard Health Publishing released a very similar article. In their writing they found matching results through studies across 16 different countries. They looked at both people who do, and people who don't have hobbies and found that compared to people who do not have hobbies, people who do are reported to have better health and more happiness. They go into detail on how this is likely because hobbies require engagement, relaxation, self expression, and can keep you more connected, which are all things linked to positive well-being.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/having-a-hobby-tied-to-happiness-and-well-being#:~:text=Compared%20with%20people%20who%20didn,to%20be%20healthy%20and%20happy.
And once again an article by Life + Health Network once again dives into the evidence that people who engage in hobbies enjoy better moods, have less stress, and even lower heart rates. This article even goes into the importance of finding the right hobby for you so you too can enjoy the benefits of having a hobby that makes one happier.
https://lifeandhealth.org/lifestyle/how-hobbies-make-you-happier-and-healthier/1411136.html

Answer 1

I think the claim is that having multiple focus areas and hobbies makes an individual happy and improves mental health. Kaiser Permanente shared “4 ways hobbies can boost your health”, it is a well-known healthcare company that wants individuals to be aware that having activities improves health. In their article, it shares “A large-scale study of more than 1.2 million Americans found that people who exercised reported 43% fewer days of poor mental health in the past month than those who didn’t exercise.4 And if you head to the great outdoors for your activity, you don’t have to overexert yourself. Research finds that simply spending 2 hours a week in nature can positively affect your health and well-being.”  This is proving that exercising and movement, aka a hobby, can affect one’s health in a positive way. “One study from the Society of Behavioral Medicine suggests that people who take part in leisure activities have fewer negative emotions and are less stressed. The study even found that our heart rates are literally lower when we engage in our hobbies[…]According to the CDC, going for a walk can help improve your sleep, your thinking, your learning, all while reducing your symptoms of stress and anxiety.” According to sources from the departments of Psychology Sciences and Biobehavioral Health of UC Merced and Penn State, leisure activities make differences in emotions and stress. From another source, it explains how the brain is affected by the hobby that is being completed and enjoyed. “The reason that finding time for hobbies can work has to do with how they affect the reward system in the brain. When we take part in a hobby that we enjoy, chemical messengers in the brain (known as neurotransmitters) are released – such as dopamine, a chemical which helps us feel pleasure. These feel-good chemicals can then make us want to do the hobby again, and feel more motivated to do so.” I think that claim made is true based on these sources and other science research.

https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/southern-california/health-wellness/healtharticle.hobbies-to-boost-health 

https://www.ucmerced.edu/sites/ucmerced.edu/files/documents/zawadzki-paper-2015.pdf 

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

Answer 2

This claim is true.

The article uses statistics to back up their claim. Using statistics is a good way to prove a fact. I also have read multiple articles, and posts that state the same thing. According to "Harvard Business Review," people who have hobbies usually have fewer negative thoughts and less stress. this is a common theme in articles that claim that hobbies make people happier. When googling this topic, there are endless studies and articles that are available from search engines. This is also a topic taught in schools, and I have taken a class at The University of Oregon, that spoke about this topic. I believe through my own experience and research, this claim is true.

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

Answer 3

 Having hobbies is an important side of life that can help produce happiness, creativity, and wellbeing. There are so many benefits that come from a lifestyle of hobbies and activities that individuals might partake in which doesn't mean one person is happier doing hobbies then another that might not have those hobbies but it certainly is proven to increase happiness for many. Harvard Health and Medical School suggests this point as research has proven that through a survey conducted through 93,000 people and 16 countries this idea was shown. All participants were 65 or older so the difference between those who did not have hobbies and those who did reported better health, happiness, satisfaction, and lower levels of depression across all countries observed. Although this is a good representation of how hobbies increase mental health, the study also does not prove that hobbies are the main or only thing making people happy and that it doesn't make them happier or better people then others. 

Answer 4

This article by Head to Health states, "Spending time on an activity that you enjoy can improve your mental health and wellbeing." This is true because, according to extension.usu.edu, hobbies can reduce stress, enhance well-being, improve social connection, and decrease depression and anxiety. 

According to a study by Harvard Health Publishing, participants periodically answered questions over the span of 4 to 8 years, and "compared with people who didn't have hobbies, those who did reported better health, more happiness, fewer symptoms of depression, and higher life satisfaction."

Therefore, using both of these studies as sources, I determined that the claim that Head to Health made about the relationship between hobbies and good mental health is true.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/having-a-hobby-tied-to-happiness-and-well-being

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

Answer 5

I agree with this article. With a little research, you can easily find the facts supported by credible people. The publisher also did a good job of putting examples on how hobbies or actives help the human body and mind.

Answer 6

This claim is true and can be backed by multiple outside sources.. A study published in Nature Medicine surveyed over 93,000 individuals across 16 countries, showing that those who engaged in hobbies reported enhanced health, greater happiness, reduced symptoms of depression, and higher life satisfaction over a span of four to eight years. Another study showed similar findings, indicating that individuals participating in leisure activities experience improved mood, increased interest in daily life, reduced stress levels, and lower heart rates.  A study was also conducted examining the connection between participating in an art based hobby and cortisol levels, which is one of the main stress causing hormones. The study found 75% of participants' cortisol levels were lowered significantly after participating in some kind of artistic hobby. Hobbies also provide opportunities for social connection based on shared interests, which can further improve mental health. Overall, these studies were conducted by reputable sources, including multiple PHD students and the National Library of Medicine; all showing a strong link between engaging in hobbies and improved mental health.

 

Source 1-

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02506-1 

Source 2-

https://www.ucmerced.edu/sites/ucmerced.edu/files/documents/zawadzki-paper-2015.pdf

Source 3-

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5004743/ 

Source 4-

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

Answer 7

This claim is true.

 

According to an article posted by the Harvard Health Publishing, authorized by Heidi Godman – executive editor of the Harvard Health Letter as well as well-known medical reporter – having a hobby can be connected to good health, mood and more. Harvard held a study that asked people with long standing mental or physical health conditions questionnaires about their health and well-being. Following that questionnaire, they were followed for four to eight years, periodically answering questions about their health and well-being. Compared to those who didn’t have hobbies, those who reportedly did have hobbies had better health, more happiness and fewer symptoms of depression with higher life satisfaction. These findings were found to be similar across all countries. 

Citation: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/having-a-hobby-tied-to-happiness-and-well-being

Answer 8

This is true, having hobbies can make an individual happier. It was expressed that the happiness was somewhat of a side affect of the sensory engagement, self-expression, relaxation etc. that the researchers reported. In addition, Head to Health explains that spending time on an activity that you enjoy can improve your mental health and wellbeing. In fact, people with hobbies may be less likely to experience stress, low mood, and depression. It states that feeling like your work is meaningful can have a large influence on your mental wellbeing. 

Here are some other links explaining the health benefits of having hobbies:

Life and Health

Choate News

Answer 9

I agree with this claim that having regular hobbies can make an individual happier. When you have something you enjoy that you can use as a release of stress or even something you do to feel joy such as baking or surfing it helps make people happier overall. Harvard health said that having a hobby has proved time and time again to help with overall happiness. 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/having-a-hobby-tied-to-happiness-and-well-being

Answer 10

The claim that having hobbies makes a person happier is supported by research. According to Harvard Health, engaging in hobbies is linked to greater happiness and overall well-being, as it provides a sense of purpose, relaxation, and social connection. Hobbies can reduce stress, improve mental health, and even lower the risk of depression by fostering creativity and engagement. Additionally, they offer opportunities for personal growth and achievement, which contribute to long-term satisfaction. While hobbies alone may not guarantee happiness, they play a significant role in enhancing life quality and emotional well-being.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/having-a-hobby-tied-to-happiness-and-well-being