A hobby is an enjoyable activity done during leisure time, which is time spent away from employment or other responsibilities, such as chores and education (1,2). A big part of leisure time can involve owning and taking care of pets.
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Hobbies and leisure time are a protective factor of mental health and can especially contribute to well-being for older adults and people who are unemployed (3,4). Multiple leisure activities per week increase the likelihood of mental well-being (5). Hobbies can positively affect mental health by supporting resilience, building self-identity, increasing social contact and reducing stigma; which are protective factors for mental health (6).
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However, some hobbies, such video games, have been associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms in adolescents and adults (7). Furthermore, mental health conditions can be a barrier to taking part in hobbies, due to stigma or symptoms such as tiredness (8).
Pets can be a protective factor for mental health, as they have been associated with a positive sense of self and can provide companionship and social interactions for people with mental health difficulties (9). However, owning a pet may also involve high financial costs, more complicated housing situations and bereavement, which have been associated with distress (9).
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References
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1. Cambridge Dictionary. Hobby meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary.
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2. Lexico. Leisure Time | Definition of Leisure Time by Oxford Dictionairy on Lexico.com also meaning of Leisure Time.
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3. Ryu J, Heo J. Relationships between leisure activity types and well-being in older adults. Leis Stud [Internet]. 2018 May 4 [cited 2021 Jan 25];37(3):331–42. Available from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02614367.2017.1370007
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4. Goodman WK, Geiger AM, Wolf JM. Leisure activities are linked to mental health benefits by providing time structure: Comparing employed, unemployed and homemakers. J Epidemiol Community Health [Internet]. 2016 Jun 13 [cited 2021 Jan 25];71(1):4–11. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech-2016-207260
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5. Santini ZI, Meilstrup C, Hinrichsen C, Nielsen L, Koyanagi A, Koushede V, et al. Associations Between Multiple Leisure Activities, Mental Health and Substance Use Among Adolescents in Denmark: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study. Front Behav Neurosci [Internet]. 2020 Dec 21 [cited 2021 Jan 25];14. Available from: /pmc/articles/PMC7779398/?report=abstract
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6. Fancourt D, Aughterson H, Finn S, Walker E, Steptoe A. How leisure activities affect health: a narrative review and multi-level theoretical framework of mechanisms of action. The Lancet Psychiatry [Internet]. 2021;8(4). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30384-9
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7. Von Der Heiden JM, Braun B, Müller KW, Egloff B. The association between video gaming and psychological functioning. Front Psychol [Internet]. 2019 Jan 1 [cited 2021 Mar 10];10(JULY). Available from: /pmc/articles/PMC6676913/
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8. Rezaie L, Shafaroodi N, Philips D. The barriers to participation in leisure time physical activities among Iranian women with severe mental illness: A qualitative study. Ment Health Phys Act. 2017 Oct 1;13:171–7.
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9. Brooks HL, Rushton K, Lovell K, Bee P, Walker L, Grant L, et al. The power of support from companion animals for people living with mental health problems: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the evidence. BMC Psychiatry [Internet]. 2018;18(31). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1613-2
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