Having a hobby can reduce symptoms of depression as well as the risk of developing the illness by up to 30 per cent, scientists have found.
Researchers at University College London found that a hobby was better than social interaction for helping prevent the illness and ease symptoms.
The scientists also found that those with depression who have a hobby have a 272 per cent higher chance of recovery.
The study took 8,780 adults over the age of 50 and monitored them for 13 years. Around 70 per cent said they had a hobby which included activities such as arts and crafts, volunteering, carpentry, and making music.
And it doesn’t necessarily need to be an activity shared, as solitary activities, such as doing puzzles, were found to be just as beneficial as group activities.
The university has said that hobbies could be used as a ‘social prescription’ for those with moderate symptoms of depression.
“First, we restricted the sample to those who were free from depression at baseline and did not have a hobby, “ the report read. “For these participants, taking up a hobby was associated with the maintenance of lower levels of depressive symptoms.
“Second, we restricted the sample to those who had depression at baseline and did not have a hobby. For these participants, taking up a hobby was associated with an improvement in depressive symptoms.”
Depression is a long-term condition that can affect somebody’s mood but also their physical health over a period of months, rather than just a few days.
It can present itself in general unhappiness, hopelessness, losing interest, and feeling tearful. It can also carry symptoms of tiredness, sleeping badly, aches and pains, and a loss of sex drive or interest.
The University College London said that their study was strong for having a large sample size but did not factor in the effects of taking an antidepressant.
The study was made from a largely white group and the relationship between hobbies and socialising on depression could also be explored further.
“Analyses showed consistent results when adjusting for level of social interaction, suggesting results were independent of any social engagement that occurred from taking part in hobbies,” the report read. “But whether social hobbies have a stronger association remains to be further explored.”
