Therapeutic jewellery: an exploration of the impact of jewellery making and wearing on well-being
Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Increasing economic and social changes are placing greater pressure on individuals worldwide, contributing to rising levels of anxiety, stress, and mental health challenges. According to the World Health Organization, 970 million people globally are living with a mental disorder, impacting not only their personal well-being but also their relationships, education, and work life.Throughout history, jewellery has served as an object with a variety of functions and meanings, including symbols of social status, religion, and decoration. While there are research and practice on jewellery and well-being, most studies focus on jewellery’s emotional significance in personal relationships, memory, and grief, rather than its potential therapeutic benefits or role in enhancing overall well-being. Over the past two decades, research in the Arts and Health has increased, highlighting how active engagement with the arts can positively impact the health and well-being of individuals and communities. However, a notable gap exists in understanding how making and wearing jewellery may impact well-being. This thesis aims to fill that gap by exploring how jewellery influences well-being, particularly through the processes of making and wearing.This research employs a combination of practice-led and mixed methods approaches. Quantitative data were collected using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) to explore whether making and wearing jewellery impacts well-being, while qualitative data were gathered through diaries, interviews, and open-ended questionnaires to understand how these activities affect individual well-being. Statistical analysis (e.g., Paired Samples t-test, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test) was used to analyse the quantitative data, and qualitative data were analysed using a hybrid thematic analysis approach, integrating both inductive and deductive methods. The deductive approach was guided by Seligman’s well-being theory, the PERMA framework, which includes positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment.Findings from both quantitative and qualitative data indicate that jewellery making has a positive effect on participants’ well-being. Elements of positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment were evident both during and as a result of the jewellery making activity. Building on previous research in Arts and Health, this thesis suggests that engaging in jewellery making can enhance well-being by evoking positive emotions, promoting a flow state, fostering social connections, supporting self-expression and identity, and contributing to a greater sense of accomplishment.In a separate analysis, the quantitative data related to wearing the jewellery show a slight increase in well-being when wearing researcher-made jewellery, while a small decline in well-being was observed when wearing self-made jewellery. This difference may be attributed to factors such as self-criticism, daily events, or personal stressors. The qualitative data further support the positive effects of wearing jewellery, with the presence of positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. Notably, wearing self-made jewellery, as opposed to jewellery made by others, was particularly associated with feelings of pride, self-expression, deeper personal meaning, and a stronger emotional connection.This research advances our understanding of the role of jewellery in enhancing well-being, offering interdisciplinary insights that bridge the fields of Jewellery, Arts and Health and Psychology, and contributing to the therapeutic potential of jewellery, the expanding body of research on well-being, and the growing field of arts and health.
Author: Yajie Hu
Institution: Loughborough University
Language: English
Subfield: Conservation
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7213256088