The Role of Nature and Craftsmanship in Promoting Student Mental Health

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Often, the life of young people is associated with fun, leisure, and rest, but only at first glance, it seems easy and carefree. When entering a university, students begin to face many stressful situations on their way. We must not forget that, having come to a university, young people form a different way of life: a new city, environment, people.

Students receive no less stress due to changes in the educational process. All these new features, such as the structure of education, moving to a dormitory, lack of money, and problems with housing, affect the psychological health of students and force them to be in a situation of uncertainty. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen it and pay increased attention to creating a favorable psychological climate.

A student's success largely depends on their psychological state. For example, if they get low grades for their assignments, they receive negative emotions that affect their mental health. Fortunately, there is a solution for those who struggle with their tasks. For example, you can get help withengineering homework or assignments in any other discipline. In this way, you will save not only your nerves but also your time.

Does contact with nature really help students?

At the end of the 20th century, several theories emerged about how contact with nature affects psychological recovery. For example, in 1991, agroup of researchers found that even watching videos of natural landscapes helps reduce stress faster than watching videos of urban environments. In 1995, psychologistStephen Kaplan suggested that contact with nature protects the brain from mental overload. The idea was this: in urban conditions, a person is forced to constantly focus on external factors (so as not to collide with passers-by on a busy street or get hit by a car), and this overloads working memory while being in nature allows you to relax.

It might be assumed that interaction with nature is especially important for students because they need to learn new things and develop their mental (what science calls cognitive) abilities, and high levels of stress and working memory overload are detrimental to both the learning process and the results. Is this really the case?

Scientists have already found out that, for example, British schoolchildren living in green areas have a more developed spatial working memory than their peers do from areas with less green space. It is also known that students demonstrate better academic performance if the school grounds are predominantly shrubs and trees rather than lawns and parking lots. However, most studies in this area are correlational, that is, those in which scientists only determine the relationship between parameters (say, the area of ​​greenery and academic performance) but do not identify the mechanism by which the beneficial effect works.

Mental health and craftsmanship

Taking part in creative activities such as knitting, painting, or crafts has long been a source of joy and relaxation for many.Recent research suggests that these activities can significantly improve mental and emotional well-being. A study by Dr Helen Keyes and her team at Anglia Ruskin University looked at the positive impact of arts and crafts on everyday life, particularly for people without diagnosed mental health conditions.

The study used data from over 7,000 participants across England using the annual Taking Part survey. It found that over 37% of respondents had done some form of craft in the past year, and those who had participated reported greater happiness, life satisfaction, and a stronger sense of purpose. However, the results also showed that while these activities can lift mood and provide a sense of accomplishment, they did not appear to reduce feelings of anxiety or loneliness.

The study highlights that arts and crafts are accessible to all. For students, it is an affordable way to improve their mental well-being. Craftsmanship or art activities offer a sense of accomplishment and personal growth, which are key elements in developing a positive mindset. Dr. Keyes noted that the act of creating brings a sense of mastery, which is crucial to students' well-being.

Craftsmanship and art have benefits such as boosting self-esteem, reducing stress, and encouraging social interaction. Such activities can help promote concentration and mindfulness. Creativity can build resilience and facilitate student's mental health.