Age and recognition for one’s creative hobby are associated with fewer depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults.

Abstract

Self-perceived creativity and participation in a serious leisure activity have been associated with multiple benefits for middle-aged and older adults, including having fewer depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which the psychological benefits gained from participating in one form of serious leisure activity, a creative hobby, may act as a buffer against depression. Additionally, the study investigated whether that buffering effect went beyond that of age and thinking of oneself as an overall creative person. A total of 268 participants, all of whom reported they were 40 years old or over, completed self-report measures including the Scale of Creative Attributes and Behavior (SCAB; used to measure self-perceived creativity), the Creative Benefits Scale (CBS; used to measure psychological benefits that people may experience as a result of long-term participation in a creative hobby), and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; measuring depressive symptoms). A hierarchical regression of depressive symptoms was conducted with age in Step 1, the SCAB total score in Step 2, and the four subscales of the CBS in Step 3. The CBS was related to lower depressive symptoms, even after age and the SCAB total score were entered. However, the relationship between the CBS and depressive symptoms was driven by mainly one subscale, Recognition. These findings suggest that, for middle-aged and older adults, receiving recognition from others for their creative hobby may provide a greater buffer to depression than do age and self-perceived creativity.

Use of Personal Resources May Influence the Rate of Biological Aging Depending on Individual Typology

“…Creativity (productive and reproductive creative activities). The presence of creative hobbies in middle-aged and elderly people reduces the number of depression symptoms [ 34 ], improves quality of life, general health, social functioning and other social and demographic indicators [ 35 ].…”