IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ariqol/v20y2025i2d10.1007_s11482-025-10430-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Eudaimonia in Sourdough: Understanding Well-Being in the Sensory Experiences of Artisanal Activities

Author

Listed:
  • Tianyi Zhang

    (University of Oxford)

  • Maciej Chmara

    (Institut Für Produkt- Und Prozessdesign, UdK Berlin)

  • Charles Spence

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

The well-being effects of artisanal food production activities remain understudied despite growing interest in the relation between well-being and food. A study was therefore designed to investigate the impact of taking part in a sourdough bread-making workshop on mood status, the hypothesis being that the rich multisensory stimulation involved might contribute positively to enhancing participants’ emotional states. A total of three sourdough making workshops (N = 52 participants) were conducted in Berlin, each lasting 2–2.5 h. The participants mixed ingredients, kneaded and shaped the dough, and tasted freshly-baked bread samples. Mood assessments were collected at four time points during the course of each workshop. The results demonstrated significant improvements in several self-reported mood states measures, including increased relaxation, reduced stress and nervousness, and an enhanced feeling of being connected to nature. The multisensory experiences of the sourdough making process, particularly the olfactory, auditory, and visual aspects, were identified as key contributors to these effects. More specifically, the aroma from sourdough ingredients, the sound of mixing, and the sight of sourdough slices were found to be especially effective in inducing positive emotional states. The results of this study therefore contribute new empirical evidence supporting the potential of artisanal bread making as a eudaimonic activity, offering insights into the relationship between sensory-rich food preparation and psychological well-being. These findings have implications for understanding the therapeutic potential of culinary activities in promoting positive mental health outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Tianyi Zhang & Maciej Chmara & Charles Spence, 2025. "Eudaimonia in Sourdough: Understanding Well-Being in the Sensory Experiences of Artisanal Activities," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 20(2), pages 685-707, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:20:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s11482-025-10430-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-025-10430-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11482-025-10430-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11482-025-10430-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Veronika Huta, 2012. "Linking Peoples’ Pursuit of Eudaimonia and Hedonia with Characteristics of their Parents: Parenting Styles, Verbally Endorsed Values, and Role Modeling," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 47-61, March.
    2. Carol D. Ryff, 2017. "Eudaimonic well-being, inequality, and health: Recent findings and future directions," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 64(2), pages 159-178, June.
    3. Bates, Douglas & Mächler, Martin & Bolker, Ben & Walker, Steve, 2015. "Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models Using lme4," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 67(i01).
    4. Carol Ryff & Burton Singer, 2008. "Know Thyself and Become What You Are: A Eudaimonic Approach to Psychological Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 13-39, January.
    5. Alan Waterman & Seth Schwartz & Regina Conti, 2008. "The Implications of Two Conceptions of Happiness (Hedonic Enjoyment and Eudaimonia) for the Understanding of Intrinsic Motivation," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 41-79, January.
    6. Mills, Jane & Taylor, James & Dwyer, Janet & Bartlett, Jennifer, . "The well-being benefits of sensory-rich farm visits," International Journal of Agricultural Management, Institute of Agricultural Management, vol. 4(01).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Veronika Huta & Alan Waterman, 2014. "Eudaimonia and Its Distinction from Hedonia: Developing a Classification and Terminology for Understanding Conceptual and Operational Definitions," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1425-1456, December.
    2. Veselina P. Vracheva & Robert Moussetis & Ali Abu-Rahma, 2020. "The Mediational Role of Engagement in the Relationship Between Curiosity and Student Development: A Preliminary Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1529-1547, April.
    3. Yanhui Mao & Chuanyu Peng & Yan Liang & Guoping Yuan & Jianhong Ma & Marino Bonaiuto, 2022. "The Relationship Between Perceived Residential Environment Quality (PREQ) and Community Identity: Flow and Social Capital as Mediators," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 163(2), pages 771-797, September.
    4. Soo Yon Yi & Aimee Jeehae Kim, 2023. "Implementation and Strategies of Community Music Activities for Well-Being: A Scoping Review of the Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-34, January.
    5. Antonella Delle Fave & Ingrid Brdar & Teresa Freire & Dianne Vella-Brodrick & Marié Wissing, 2011. "The Eudaimonic and Hedonic Components of Happiness: Qualitative and Quantitative Findings," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 100(2), pages 185-207, January.
    6. Arzu Atan & Hale Ozgit & Fatos Silman, 2021. "Happiness at Work and Motivation for a Sustainable Workforce: Evidence from Female Hotel Employees," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-17, July.
    7. Yew-Kwang Ng, 2011. "Happiness Is Absolute, Universal, Ultimate, Unidimensional, Cardinally Measurable and Interpersonally Comparable: A Basis for the Environmentally Responsible Happy Nation Index," Monash Economics Working Papers 16-11, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    8. Lung Chen & Ying-Mei Tsai & Mei-Yen Chen, 2010. "Psychometric Analysis of the Orientations to Happiness Questionnaire in Taiwanese Undergraduate Students," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 98(2), pages 239-249, September.
    9. Baumeister, Roy F. & Vohs, Kathleen D. & Aaker, Jennifer L. & Garbinsky, Emily N., 2012. "Some Key Differences between a Happy Life and a Meaningful Life," Research Papers 2119, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    10. Ethan McMahan & David Estes, 2011. "Measuring Lay Conceptions of Well-Being: The Beliefs About Well-Being Scale," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 267-287, April.
    11. Mohsen Joshanloo, 2011. "Investigation of the Contribution of Spirituality and Religiousness to Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being in Iranian Young Adults," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 12(6), pages 915-930, December.
    12. Leonid Z. Levit, 2014. "Meaning and Egoism: Are the Notions Compatible?," International Journal of Social Science Research, Macrothink Institute, vol. 2(1), pages 102-112, March.
    13. Maurizio Pugno, 2021. "The economics of eudaimonia," Chapters, in: Luigino Bruni & Alessandra Smerilli & Dalila De Rosa (ed.), A Modern Guide to the Economics of Happiness, chapter 4, pages 46-66, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    14. Igor Sotgiu, 2019. "Gender Differences and Similarities in Autobiographical Memory for Eudaimonic Happy Events," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(5), pages 1457-1479, June.
    15. Masahiro Toyama, 2022. "Longitudinal and Age-Related Implications of Primary and Secondary Control for Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 2313-2336, June.
    16. Wenjia Li & Shengwei Shen & Jidong Yang & Qinghe Tang, 2021. "Internet-Based Medical Service Use and Eudaimonic Well-Being of Urban Older Adults: A Peer Support and Technology Acceptance Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-16, November.
    17. Pyke, Sarah & Hartwell, Heather & Blake, Adam & Hemingway, Ann, 2016. "Exploring well-being as a tourism product resource," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 94-105.
    18. Phadiel Hoosen & Shazly Savahl & Sabirah Adams & Ferran Casas, 2024. "A Systematic Review of Children’s Psychological Well-Being from a Eudaimonic Perspective: a Narrative Synthesis," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(6), pages 2577-2597, December.
    19. Ethan McMahan & David Estes, 2012. "Age-Related Differences in Lay Conceptions of Well-Being and Experienced Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 79-101, March.
    20. Emma Nicole Lomberg & Jacques Jordaan, 2024. "Emotional Intelligence, Adjustment, Media and Technology Usage, and Gender as Predictors of Psychological Well-being Amongst Undergraduate University Students," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:20:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s11482-025-10430-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.