Date of Graduation
Summer 2022
Degree
Master of Science in Kinesiology
Department
Kinesiology
Committee Chair
Rebecca Woodard
Abstract
Many people in the United States suffer from poor mental health which can lead to suicide, self-harm, or negative effects on job performance and relationships. Not everyone can afford traditional therapy nor feels comfortable with it. With a greater emphasis placed on taking care of one’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, there should also be a greater emphasis placed on finding alternative types of therapy that can be matched to individuals based on their personalities and preferences. One such alternative is outdoor exercise. This review was conducted to examine whether exercising or performing physical activity outdoors results in greater mental health benefits than exercising or performing physical activity indoors. EBSCO host and internet website searches were used to find relevant journal articles, as well as the reference lists of systematic reviews/meta-analyses related to the topic. Both randomized and nonrandomized trials were included. Eligible studies compared the psychological benefits of exercising outdoors with those of exercising indoors. Eligible studies also included participants of at least 15 years of age. All included journal articles were published between January 2005 and May 2022. Thirteen studies consisting of a total of 6,522 participants were chosen for inclusion. Eight of these studies reported that exercising outdoors resulted in greater mental health benefits than exercising indoors. Performing physical activity outdoors may be an alternative option for those suffering from mental illness or looking to maintain good mental health.
Keywords
green exercise, physical activity, indoor, outdoor, mental health, depression, anxiety
Subject Categories
Alternative and Complementary Medicine | Exercise Physiology | Exercise Science | Movement and Mind-Body Therapies | Other Mental and Social Health | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychology of Movement | Recreational Therapy
Copyright
© Greta M. Rueschmann
Recommended Citation
Rueschmann, Greta M., "A Comparison of the Magnitude of the Mental Health Benefits of Exercising Outdoors vs Exercising Indoors: A Review" (2022). MSU Graduate Theses. 3775.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3775
Open Access
Included in
Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons, Exercise Physiology Commons, Exercise Science Commons, Movement and Mind-Body Therapies Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychology of Movement Commons, Recreational Therapy Commons
