Having a hobby lifts older adults' mental health worldwide
In Denmark, 96% of older adults reported having a hobby, compared with 51% in Spain, one of 16 countries studied in a new analysis of more than 93,000 people aged 65 and over. According to the study, published in Nature Medicine, having a hobby was linked to fewer depressive symptoms and higher happiness, life satisfaction and self-reported health. The pattern held across every country involved. Researchers found the link held over time, not only in a single snapshot.
Older adults in every country studied, from Denmark to Spain, may see better mood and life satisfaction by keeping up a hobby.
Source: Hobby engagement and mental wellbeing among people aged 65 years and older in 16 countries - Nature Medicine (nature.com).
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