Crafting for well-being: Understanding the connection between mental health and handmade products

Abstract

This thesis explores the complex connection between crafting and wellbeing, focussing on the creation of handcrafted goods and its effects on mental health. This study aims to understand how crafting activities enhance the well-being of individuals and communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a region rich in cultural heritage and strong crafting traditions. The study uses focus groups to get detailed information about the experiences and perspectives of craft makers from three generations—Gen X, Y, and Z—using a qualitative methodological approach. According to the research, there are several psychological advantages of crafting, such as lowered stress levels, better expression of emotions, and strengthened relationships with others. By encouraging a sense of community and belonging, crafting acts as an instrument for cultural preservation, enabling people to celebrate and preserve their cultural identity. The study also emphasises the therapeutic and financial benefits of crafting, indicating that it may be a useful tactic for improving mental health and general wellbeing. Crafting has been shown to promote ecological practices and offer an alternative narrative to mass manufacturing and consumerism, in addition to its cultural and personal value. The study emphasises the value of crafting in modern society as a way to promote social cohesiveness and resilience in addition to being a means of personal fulfilment. This thesis adds to a larger understanding of how crafting might enhance mental health by looking at the subjective experiences of craft makers. It also provides insightful information for future studies and advertisements in the crafting sector.