The Growing Impact of “Grandma Hobbies” on Mental Health and Cognition

The sudden and swift rise of the digital age has fostered a pushback against ever-increasing screen time, particularly among young people. Dubbed “grandma hobbies” or “grandmacore” in online communities, pre-technology pastimes like crafting, gardening, puzzles, and baking have emerged as popular alternatives to doomscrolling. Maintaining any type of hobby promotes happiness, satisfaction, and well-being, but research says that grandma hobbies may contribute something special — benefits to the brain. 

The potential for mental health improvement is vast, from simple stress reduction to therapeutic interventions and cognitive benefits. No matter the age, grandma hobbies are for everyone, and the process of knitting a scarf or tending to a flourishing garden might provide more for your mind than just the gratification of a completed project.

Happy Hookers and Calm Crafters

Learning a fiber art can certainly help you stay warm through a sweater or blanket made by your own hands. But crocheters, aptly referred to as ‘hookers’ in a study exploring the effects of crochet on wellbeing, have reported that the activity also makes them feel calmer, happier, and more useful, providing a significant boost in mood during and after the activity. Other crafts-based activities, such as knitting, drawing, and textile arts, generate similar enhancements.

Stress reduction is another commonly cited reason for participation in hands-on hobbies. Across racial and socioeconomic boundaries, gardeners have reported the highest emotional wellbeing compared to those pursuing other hobbies, while community gardening has been shown to both contribute to wellbeing and reduce stress. Knitting, crochet, pottery, and other creative arts have demonstrated similar stress-reducing properties. 

"Across racial and socioeconomic boundaries, gardeners have reported the highest emotional wellbeing compared to those pursuing other hobbies"

Such hobbies may even be important for general health, as stress can exacerbate damaging effects of various ailments. Knitting has been shown to significantly lower stress in cancer survivors, and a study of 38 women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa reported that knitting reduced their anxious preoccupations during the activity. 74% of the women noted that knitting both lessened the intensity of their fears and had a calming effect. 

Grandma Hobbies as Therapeutic Accessories

Beyond improving mood and reducing stress, grandma hobbies may play an important role in the development of accessible, personalized therapeutic interventions for a variety of disorders. 

Research shows that crafts-based interventions have potential to be used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and stress in diverse groups of people, including patients with stroke or epilepsy, mental health disorders, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, survivors of sex trafficking, and nursing home residents. 

In particular, pottery has been effective in decreasing depression, anxiety, and emotional distress, in addition to reducing feelings of hopelessness and increasing self-esteem and interest in life. Other traditional hobbies may promote similar reductions; according to a 2019 study, birdwatching was associated with lasting improvements in mental wellbeing for individuals with depression. 

Horticultural therapy has been found to significantly reduce depressive symptoms in elderly individuals, and research reports that urban agriculture interventions have the potential to support current therapeutic approaches. However, one may not even need to get outside to see these benefits: writing and journaling are even more accessible ways to significantly reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. 

While such activities are not comprehensive solutions for mental health disorders, and not all hobbies will promote long-lasting effects, the application of so-called “grandma hobbies” alongside existing treatments could provide approachable mental healthcare for many.  

Physical Pastimes and Hands-on Hobbies Promote Better Aging

Although specific groups may benefit from the therapeutic benefits of hands-on hobbies, any individual has the potential to experience age-related advantages into the twilight years. 

Staving off cognitive decline is one exciting benefit recently identified by scientists. Research shows that craft activities, such as knitting and quilting, as well as playing games and reading books, are associated with decreased odds of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in old age. Another study highlights the cognitive benefits of gardening: a large-scale study of adults aged 45+ revealed that gardeners enjoy a 28% lower risk of subjective cognitive decline. Similarly, those participating in horticultural therapy may experience improved cognitive function, which could relate to the increase in physical activity that gardening encourages. 

"A study of 38 women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa reported that knitting reduced their anxious preoccupations during the activity (...)"

Exercise is well-associated with reducing cognitive decline, and research shows that gardening may help older individuals meet recommended guidelines for physical activity. Gardening, among other hobbies which require fine motor skills, like knitting, may also contribute to improvements in hand dexterity and grip strength. Research has long highlighted deterioration of these physical abilities as a possible risk factor for cognitive impairment, and thus participating in such activities could help stave off decline.  

While most of these hobbies can be conducted alone, joining a knitting circle or book club may be another important factor. Socialization generally contributes to improvements in mental health, but it is also associated with a delayed onset of cognitive impairment, and such social activities could be critical for maintaining better cognitive function into old age. 

Grandma Hobbies as a New (Old) Frontier

In a digital age where rates of anxiety and depression have skyrocketed, it is particularly important to highlight accessible activities which promote better mental health and wellbeing. The term “grandma hobbies” may be novel to the Internet, but the activities contributing to this boom in traditional pastimes are nothing new. 

Beyond mental health and brain function, hands-on hobbies offer an avenue to slow down and engage in mindfulness, and a little can go a long way. Engaging for even a few minutes at a time, whether that involves tending to your plants, picking up your knitting needles, or working on a fun puzzle, is a great first step towards prioritizing your mental health. It may even spark a new connection or lifelong pastime that you would not have otherwise considered without embracing your inner grandma. When it comes to simple ways to manage your mind, grandma knows best.

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This article was written by Marilyn Curtis and edited by Julia Dabrowska, with graphics produced by Ginevra Sperandio. If you enjoyed this article, be the first to be notified about new posts by signing up to become a WiNUK member (top right of this page)! Interested in writing for WiNUK yourself? Contact us through the blog page and the editors will be in touch.