Knitting, Crochet & Mental Health: The Science Explained

Could one of the most effective wellbeing tools already be sitting in a knitting bag? Sometimes the simplest habits can have a bigger psychological impact than we expect. In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent is joined by Dr Mia Hobbs and Dr Paula Redmond to explore how knitting and crochet can support mental health, emotional wellbeing and self-care through evidence-informed psychological principles.

#MentalHealth #Knitting #Psychology

Highlights: 00:00 Introduction 00:36 Why knitting benefits mental health 04:19 The rise of analogue hobbies 05:00 Why younger people are embracing knitting 09:13 Learning to knit from childhood 11:23 Knitting, safety and self-compassion 15:40 Knitting during grief and psychological distress 16:25 Is knitting an affordable wellbeing tool? 18:18 The evidence for knitting and mental health 20:38 Challenging the "grandma hobby" stereotype 21:58 Can knitting support hand health? 23:36 Creative Restoration and therapeutic knitting 25:54 Knitting, attention and screen time 29:39 Why I Knit podcast 30:43 When Work Hurts podcast 32:10 Where to learn more

Links:

📲 Connect with Dr Mia and Dr Paula Redmond here: https://www.instagram.com/knittingistherapeutic/ https://www.instagram.com/drpaularedmond/

Creative Restoration Webpage: https://creativerestoration.org/about-us/

🫶 To join my podcast membership to get early access to episodes and support the show head to: https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/support or to the Apple Podcasts App: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-aspiring-psychologist-podcast/id1605628278 or to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOwjrIP_jatiqlAivJE2mgQ/join

📚 To check out The Clinical Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3jOplx0

📖 To check out The Aspiring Psychologist Collective Book: https://amzn.to/3CP2N97

💡 To check out or join the aspiring psychologist membership for just £30 per month head to: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/membership

🖥️ Check out my short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk/online-courses

Ask Marianne your most pressing psychology career question and she will send you a FREE bespoke reply! Grab your free psychology success guide here and fill in the most pressing concern box: https://www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk (scroll to the bottom of the page)