Abstract
<p>The evidence base reporting benefits of textile handcrafts is fragmented across disciplines and methodologies. This comprehensive synthesis of peer-reviewed research examines the relationship between textile handcrafts and psychological wellbeing, identifying a unifying model to explain underlying mechanisms and outcomes. Aims and outcomes of interest were determined through co-development with public stakeholders.A narrative synthesis of 42 studies (total N = 18,528) was complemented by meta-analysis. Qualitative findings indicated that engagement in textile handcrafts supports mood regulation, coping, self-identity, and a sense of accomplishment, alongside social and cognitive benefits. Quantitative findings demonstrated improvements in mood, coping, quality of life, cognition, and social outcomes. Social benefits were evident both in-person and online. Negative experiences were infrequently reported, and included fear of making mistakes or being judged, and frustration during skill acquisition. A meta-analysis of seven studies indicated an improvement in positive psychological wellbeing (β = 0.82, SE = 0.39, p = .040), while analysis of five studies indicated a reduction of negative psychological wellbeing (β = 0.74, SE = 0.30, p = .013).Findings suggest that textile handcrafts can enhance psychological wellbeing, particularly for those who enjoy such activities and engage in supportive environments, and may support cultural expression, self-identity, and social connection. The identified mechanisms can be coherently captured by the PERMA model, offering, to our knowledge, the first suggestion for a theoretically grounded and integrative framework for understanding the benefits of textile handcrafts. Future research would benefit from higher-quality reporting of methods and results to support replication and synthesis.</p>