Crafting as a Means of Emotion Regulation

Författare

  • Tuuli Hallivuo
  • Tarja Kröger University of Eastern Finland
  • Minna Kaipainen University of Eastern Finland
  • Sirpa Kokko University of Eastern Finland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7577/TechneA.6709

Nyckelord:

self-development strategy, crafting, approach strategy, emotion regulation, avoidance strategy

Abstract

Emotions and emotion regulation skills are part of everyone’s life. From the perspective of psychological well-being and the smooth functioning of everyday life, individuals are required to possess the ability to recognise, process, and regulate different emotions. Creative activities, included in fields such as visual arts, music, and crafts, have been shown to evoke a wide range of emotional reactions and to provide opportunities for emotion regulation through various strategies. This article examines crafting as a means of emotion regulation from the perspective of hobbyists’ experiences. The data consist of responses from 56 craft hobbyists to an online questionnaire with open-ended questions, which were analysed using data-driven and theory-guided content analysis, drawing on Gross’s process model as well as Fancourt’s classification of approach, avoidance, and self-development strategies. The results indicate that crafting offers adults diverse, flexibly applicable ways to regulate their emotions. Hobbyists described crafting particularly as an approach strategy for encountering, structuring, and calming emotions, but also as a means of temporarily setting aside burdensome emotions in accordance with an avoidance strategy. In addition, crafting strengthened identity, self-efficacy, and self-compassion, reflecting its significance as a self-development strategy. The findings contribute to existing understanding of emotion regulation by demonstrating how multiple regulation strategies are intertwined within a single creative everyday practice and support adults’ emotional learning and self-regulation.

Författarbiografier

Tuuli Hallivuo

Tuuli Hallivuo (MA) works as a class teacher in Southeastern Finland. She is qualified as both a class teacher and a craft teacher. Her research interests focus on craft and well-being, particularly the relationship between craft and emotions. In her master’s thesis, she examined the emotional experiences of Finnish craft enthusiasts.

Tarja Kröger, University of Eastern Finland

Tarja Kröger (PhD, Docent) is a university lecturer at the University of Eastern Finland. She has nearly forty years of experience in teacher education, including university practice schools, craft teacher education, and primary teacher education. Her research focuses on craft education, particularly material competences and cultural dialogue.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3173-3894

Minna Kaipainen, University of Eastern Finland

Minna Kaipainen (PhD) is a university lecturer at the University of Eastern Finland. Her research interests primarily focus on dress and garment construction from the past to the present. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0874-0989

Sirpa Kokko, University of Eastern Finland

Sirpa Kokko, PhD, is Professor of Craft Science at the University of Eastern Finland. She has nearly four decades of experience in craft education across all levels, from primary to higher education. Her research examines arts and crafts in culture and society and their role in education in both Finnish and international contexts, with particular emphasis on well-being, gender, cultural heritage, intercultural understanding, and sustainability. She has served as Visiting Professor at the University of Tartu's Viljandi Culture Academy and as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar in the United States. She has also contributed to development cooperation projects in Africa and Latin America and collaborated as a researcher and educator with numerous universities across Europe and beyond.
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7484-3543

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Publicerad

2026-09-17

Referera så här

Hallivuo, T., Kröger, T., Kaipainen, M., & Kokko, S. (2026). Crafting as a Means of Emotion Regulation. Techne Serien - Forskning I slöjdpedagogik Och slöjdvetenskap, 33(1), 56–71. https://doi.org/10.7577/TechneA.6709

Nummer

Vol 33 Nr 1 (2026): Techne serien

Sektion

Artiklar

Licens

Copyright (c) 2026 Tuuli Hallivuo, Tarja Kröger, Minna Kaipainen, Sirpa Kokko

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