Being outdoors for mental health

With the weather improving, it may be easier to spend more time outside.

While there are many options for mental health treatment, a recent study looked at whether being outside can benefit for mental health (1).

What was the study? (1)

  • Ibes and Forestell (1) studied 234 undergraduate students.
  • Participants engaged in 20 minutes of mindfulness meditation or a control task, either in a campus park-like setting or in a quiet room indoors.
  • Before and after the activity, total mood disturbance (TMD) was assessed with the Profile of Mood States Questionnaire.

What were the results? (1)

  • In this study, they found (1) that when participants sat for 20 minutes in a greenspace located in a central campus location, they experienced a significant reduction in mood disturbance relative to those who sat inside.
  • Participants were near car traffic, foot traffic, and campus activities.
  • During the study, temperature ranged (i.e., from the mid-40s to upper 80 s, in degrees Fahrenheit) for outdoor participants.
  • A significant reduction in mood disturbance was noted regardless of whether they engaged in meditation or the control activity (sitting).

Other thoughts:

By R. Ryan S Patel DO, FAPA OSU-CCS Psychiatrist

Permission to use/cite this article: contact patel.2350@osu.edu

 Disclaimer: This article is intended to be informative only. It is advised that you check with your own physician/mental health provider before implementing any changes. With this article, the author is not rendering medical advice, nor diagnosing, prescribing, or treating any condition, or injury; and therefore claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or injury caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the material presented.

References:

  1. Dorothy C. Ibes & Catherine A. Forestell (2022) The role of campus greenspace and meditation on college students’ mood disturbance, Journal of American College Health, 70:1, 99-106, DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1726926