Creative men (Photographers) are happier, less depressed
I recently came across a story about a study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology that found men who engaged in creative activities were less likely to be depressed. The study had ~ 50,000 participants but I’m not sure how many of them actually practiced photography or if the study focused on other types of art - theater, writing, painting, music, etc.
In any case, I can tell you that photography (as well as writing, believe it or not) is very therapeutic for me. Since I’ve decided to pursue my photography again I have felt a much greater balance in life as well as sense of purpose to find, refine and share my vision of the world. It has also encouraged me to develop my creativity so I can instill it in my daughters as they grow and learn about the world.
I’m trying to find more details on the study to see if, and how many participants used photography as a way to battle depression. It would also be interesting to know how long some of the successful participants participated in these creative activities on a weekly basis. Is there a minimum amount per week that they recommend? Not that I could afford to quite my day job but it I’m curious to know how much time these men spent being creative.
