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.

Answer 1

Yes, this is true. 

According to Realsimple.com, Tomeka McGee-Holloway and Bethany Cook, both Doctors of Psychology, claim that having one or more hobbies can improve a person’s mental health, and have an increasing number of benefits when self-confidence is gained through the hobbies. 

Tomeka McGee-Holloway believes that engaging in activities can reduce cortisol that causes stress, and it is encouraging self-care and self-love. Furthermore, Bethany Cook also points out that having hobbies brings people joy and maintains good mental health. 

Research studies conducted by Utah State University also state that the benefits of having hobbies are to reduce stress and anxiety, enhance well-being, and improve mental health. Hobbies during spare time, such as doing something creative or enjoyable like sports, arts, or traveling, can be meaningful to people. Having hobbies has lots of benefits to people. 

Having Hobbies Can Boost Your Mental Health, Here's How (realsimple.com)

How Hobbies Improve Mental Health | USU

Comments

I really liked how you referenced the thoughts of two individuals who know a lot on the subject as well as a study. It provides two different credible sources for your answer.

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I liked how you went into depth by using this article and paraphrased/summarized it into your own words. However, I do think using some quotes, since your answer is decently long, would be beneficial, as well as using other information besides this singular source.

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Nice job defining exactly what was being measured to "make an individual happier." News articles tend to simplify studies and don't always define variables. Knowing there have been specific looks at stress and anxiety makes this research a lot more reliable.

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I really enjoyed your insight and how you list multiple sources to your fact check. Specifically the different insights a part from yours that highlights the truthfulness behind this check. Well done!

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I like how you mentioned a source where two doctors stated their thoughts on this topic. It's helpful for providing verification and a reliable source.

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This was a great fact-check as it clearly laid out whether or not this fact was true or false, and you clarified it with your own words! I would just recommend adding some quotations, but good job using sources!

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Good that you added on how the studies and people who handles these subjects well. To get those recognitions and be helpful for others reading and have them better themselves mentally.

Answer 2

This is true.

According to the Choate News article, author Amelia Sipkin writes "Psychologists have found a positive correlation between hobbies and happiness; people who make time for their hobbies can live longer, have decreased risk for certain diseases, and achieve happier lives overall" (Sipkin).

She would later go on to also state, "I baked a lot. It was my hobby...I simply baked because I enjoyed playing with all the shiny metal tools, dumping around flours and sugars, and watching my creations magically transform through the oven window" (Sipkin). This is evidence that the baking hobby made her happy in elementary school.

I can also add to this. I am a sports fan and a train spotter. I watch sports and film trains as much as possible, and they both make me very happy.

https://thechoatenews.choate.edu/2023/01/30/hobbies-and-happiness-a-recipe-for-happiness%EF%BF%BC%EF%BF%BC%EF%BF%BC/#:~:text=Psychologists%20have%20found%20a%20positive,and%20achieve%20happier%20lives%20overall.

Comments

Nice job useing mutiple sources and citing the facts that you found. by giving that source and citation is helps with a lot of just knowing that it is true.

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I really like that you included not only many sources, but also personal experience in your answer. You were clear and concise in your answer, good job!

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I love how you include personal experience, but I believe your argument could benefit from more sources. If you had another source that stated hobbies could improve mental health, your argument would've been strengthened.

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I appreciate how you not only referenced your articles, but also the authors themselves. This really adds to the credibility of your answer.

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I love how you included your own experience and the experience of the author to support your claim. Scientific evidence is supportive, but they are often elusive for younger readers, or for news reports to define what is "make someone happier". Putting experience in the factcheck is not only easy for readers to understand the claim directly, but also increases credibility.

Answer 3

This is true.

According to WebMD, "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." Additionally, the article specifies that "when you take time to do activities that make you happy, it helps improve mental health. Giving quality time to activities that you enjoy also helps your performance in your professional life. It improves your creative problem-solving abilities and helps you build better relationships with your coworkers and makes you more empathetic."

Source: https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-hobbies#1-3

Comments

Good work on finding the most relevant parts of the article and delivering them in a clear and concise manner.

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Good factcheck! Is there a reason you chose WebMD over a different source that could be more reliable?

Answer 4

This is true!

Studies suggest that having hobbies can lead to increased mental-health well-being and are less likely to experience anxiety, stress, and depression---feeling more content with their daily lives.

Life and Health Network says, "There’s evidence that fun diversions contribute to good health." I went on to write about how embracing a new hobby sharpens your ability to take on problems in other areas of life and build new skills.  

Harvard Business Review Home covered a study published in March 2020 that discovered how hobbies were connected to a 30% lower risk of depression. People who engage in hobbies experience fewer negative emotions.

Utah State University Mental Health Education Extension also found a study in New Zealand found that creative activities can lead to a long-lasting sense of well-being. And reduce loneliness and mortality risk by up to 50%.

https://lifeandhealth.org/lifestyle/how-hobbies-make-you-happier-and-healthier/1411136.html#:~:text=There's%20evidence%20that%20fun%20diversions,hours%20after%20the%20recreation%20time.  

https://hbr.org/2021/10/can-hobbies-actually-make-you-a-better-person#:~:text=One%20study%20from%20the%20Society,we%20engage%20in%20our%20hobbies.

https://extension.usu.edu/mentalhealth/articles/how-hobbies-improve-mental-health#:~:text=Enhanced%20well%2Dbeing:%20a%20study,engaged%20in%20a%20creative%20activity.

Comments

I like that your response was very straight to the point. It definitely makes it an easier read.

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I like that you found so many academic sources to prove the claim is accurate.

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The fact that you had 3  sources, 2 of which being .org links and one of which being a .edu link is fantastic. This was not only a thorough fact check just based on the sources, but a quality one based on the credibility of the sources you provided.

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I like how you had an array of different sources, and they all lead into your one point. Your fact check was very straightforward and done very well!

Answer 5

This claim is true because in the source provided it talks about now having a activity you’re interested in improves your well being and a quote from the text is, “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.” That it is good to find something you’re interested in will keep you occupied and be an escape from stress you’re dealing with. 

In this source from connect health it is proven that hobbies are a great stress reducer and betters mental health. 

Here it says, “It provides you with the opportunity to have some “me” time, and gives you an outlet for releasing stress built up from the day.” We can infer that having a distract that brings happiness and interest can be a destresser and that is already a good result of becoming more happpy.  

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

Comments

I feel another important thing to mention is that hobbies can be a gateway into meeting new people! By using hobbies as a socialization skill you can both do something you enjoy but also connect with people who already have a common interest which would make a lot of people happier- having someone to talk to about something you enjoy.

Answer 6

This fact is true, but hobbies can also do a lot of different things for individuals besides just making them happy. According to the Harvard Business Review, different hobbies can do different things to a person. Walking and hiking can help with stress, coloring can lead people to be more creative, and gratitude journaling can lead to happiness. There is a lot of research from psychologists, and scientists that prove that having hobbies is a very good thing.

According to another article from the Wall Street Journal, there is a mental health center for teens that uses cooking lessons to help with mental health and addiction. Cooking is just one hobby, but psychologists say that it is rewarding and leads to a sense of accomplishments.

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

https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-road-to-mental-health-through-the-kitchen-1418059204