---
title: "Poetry and mental health: what research says | Rhyma"
description: "What studies of poetry, rhyming, and collaborative creativity tell us about mental health, social connection, and the limits of the evidence."
image: "https://www.rhyma.app/articles/poetry-and-mental-health/poetry-and-mental-health-og.webp"
---

ResearchSeptember 8, 2026

# Can writing poetry support mental health? What the research says

What studies of poetry, rhyming, and collaborative creativity tell us about mental health, social connection, and the limits of the evidence.

Finding a rhyme means holding meaning, rhythm, and sound in your head at the same time. When you write with other people, your line becomes part of something you could not have made alone.

Could that support mental health? Perhaps. Research on poetry, creative writing, and participatory arts points to possible benefits for emotional well-being and social connection. The evidence does not support claims that rhyming makes you smarter or that poetry treats depression.

## What we know about poetry and mental health

In 2026, researchers published a systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 studies involving poetry. Participants read, wrote, or discussed poems, either individually or in groups. The authors found improvements in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and stress.

Most of the studies were small, used different methods, and had a risk of bias. The result for resilience was uncertain, and the researchers found no reliable benefit for pain. They describe poetry-based practices as a promising addition to professional care, not a replacement for treatment ([Kassab, Jayatunge, and Bou Khalil, 2026](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116897)).

The findings give us some reason for cautious optimism, but writing a poem is not automatically therapy.

## Why writing may help

Putting an experience into words can make it easier to examine. Writing gives you time to name what you feel and shape scattered thoughts into a story. Rhyme or meter adds a constraint. You may have to find another word, image, or way to say the same thing.

Most of the evidence here concerns expressive writing rather than poetry. A meta-analysis of 31 experiments involving 4,012 people found a small reduction in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. The effect was more likely to appear at follow-up than immediately after writing ([Guo, 2023](https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12408)).

A separate review of creative-writing interventions also found positive results for depressive symptoms, particularly in structured programs. There was too little evidence to reach a conclusion about suicidal thoughts ([Porras-Segovia et al., 2024](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-024-01511-6)).

Results vary by person and format. Some studies did not find the expected effect on anxiety or stress. Creative writing may help some people, but it is not a universal prescription.

![A thought becoming ordered lines on a sheet of paper](/articles/poetry-and-mental-health/thoughts-into-lines.svg)

## Does rhyming really “train your brain”?

Writing poetry is a demanding task. You choose words, work with meaning and sound, build images, check the rhythm, and revise the result.

Brain-imaging studies reflect that complexity. Language, executive, sensorimotor, and emotional systems interact differently as people compose and revise poetry. Cognitive-control regions become more involved again during revision ([Liu et al., 2015](https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.22849)). Another study found that language and executive networks interact during poetry composition. The pattern varied with the writer’s familiarity with the subject ([He et al., 2022](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2022.105202)).

These findings show that poetry engages many mental processes. A brain scan cannot tell us whether regular rhyming improves memory, attention, or intelligence in daily life.

Research on cognitive training gives another reason for caution. Practice often helps people improve at the trained task or a closely related one. Transfer to unrelated skills tends to be small or absent ([Sala et al., 2019](https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.203)). It is more accurate to say that rhyming gives your brain an interesting language task than to promise a general cognitive boost.

![A person finding a connection between two rhyming phrases](/articles/poetry-and-mental-health/rhyme-workout.svg)

## What collaborative creativity adds

Writing together means waiting for the next line, picking up someone else’s idea, letting go of your own plan, and seeing the shared result.

In a UK survey of 5,892 adults, 82% said that taking part in the arts helped them feel connected to other people at least some of the time. They mentioned opportunities for social contact, sharing, a sense of belonging, and collective understanding ([Perkins et al., 2021](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11233-6)).

This survey recorded people’s perceptions; it was not an experiment. It cannot prove that every shared creative activity reduces loneliness. A qualitative systematic review found a similar pattern: arts participants described belonging, shared identity, and new social connections ([Daykin et al., 2021](https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2020.1802605)).

A shared poem can be a small reason to connect, especially when nobody has to write the entire piece, demonstrate expertise, or disclose something personal.

![Three people adding lines to one shared poem](/articles/poetry-and-mental-health/shared-poem.svg)

## Where Rhyma fits

Rhyma is a collaborative poetry game. Each participant adds one line, sees only part of the context, and discovers the whole poem after it is complete. You can write with people in World mode or invite your own group into a Circle.

The format combines language, creative constraints, anticipation, and contact with other people. Researchers study similar elements when they examine creativity and well-being. Rhyma itself has not been tested in clinical trials. It is a creative game. It is not therapy, a medical app, or a replacement for a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Its purpose is simpler: Rhyma gives you a reason to write one line today and see where someone else takes it.

## How to try it without expecting a specific result

You do not need to wait for inspiration or try to write “real” poetry. Start with one short line about something you can see, hear, or feel. If the rhyme will not come, change the final word. If the line comes out strange, leave it. A strange turn is often the most interesting part of a shared poem.

Do not expect a guaranteed result. You can play with words, express something, or simply enjoy seeing where the poem goes. Any of those is a good reason to try it.

[Try Rhyma on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.rhyma)

## Frequently asked questions

### Can writing poetry reduce stress?

Research on poetry-based practices and expressive writing suggests a possible reduction in stress, but the effect is not guaranteed and varies by person and format. The average effect of expressive writing was small.

### Does rhyming improve memory and attention?

Looking for rhymes engages language processes, attention, and control during the task itself. There is no direct evidence that regular rhyming produces a lasting, general improvement in memory or attention.

### Do I have to write about difficult experiences?

No. Creative writing can be fictional, funny, or absurd. If a personal subject causes serious discomfort, you do not need to continue writing about it.

### Can poetry replace psychotherapy?

No. Poetry can be a creative practice or part of work with a qualified professional, but it does not replace diagnosis or treatment. If your mental health is interfering with daily life, or you feel that you may be in danger, seek professional help.

## Sources

*   [World Health Organization: a review of more than 3,000 studies on arts, health, and well-being](https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289054553)
*   [Systematic review and meta-analysis of poetry-based interventions](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116897)
*   [Meta-analysis of expressive writing, depression, anxiety, and stress](https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12408)
*   [Systematic review of creative writing for depression](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-024-01511-6)
*   [Study of arts engagement and social connectedness](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11233-6)
*   [Systematic review of social capital in participatory arts](https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2020.1802605)

A note about health information

This article is for general information. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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