Reference : Health benefits of walking in nature: a randomized controlled study under conditions ...

	Document type :	Scientific journals : Article
	Discipline(s) :	Social & behavioral sciences, psychology : Multidisciplinary, general & others
	To cite this reference:	http://hdl.handle.net/10993/36426

Title :	Health benefits of walking in nature: a randomized controlled study under conditions of real-life stress.
Language :	English
Author, co-author :	Olafsdottir, Gunnthora [> >]
	Cloke, Paul [> >]
	Schulz, André [University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE) >]
	Van Dyck, Zoé [University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE) >]
	Eysteinsson, Thor [> >]
	Thorleifsdottir, Björg [> >]
	Vögele, Claus [University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE) >]
Publication date :	2020
Journal title :	Environment and Behavior
Publisher :	Sage
Volume :	52
Issue/season :	3
Pages :	248-274
Peer reviewed :	Yes (verified by ORBilu)
Audience :	International
ISSN :	0013-9165
e-ISSN :	1552-390X
Abstract :	[en] We investigated the effects of recreational exposure to the natural environment on mood and psychophysiological responses to stress. We hypothesized that walking in nature has restorative effects over and above the effects of exposure to nature scenes (viewing-nature-on-TV) or physical exercise alone (walking-on-a-treadmill-in-a-gym) and that these effects are greater when participants were expected to be more stressed. Healthy university students (N=90) were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 conditions and tested during an exam-free period and again during their exam time. Mood and psychophysiological responses were assessed before and after the interventions, and again after a laboratory stressor. All interventions had restorative effects on cortisol levels (p < .001), yet walking in nature resulted in lower cortisol levels than did nature viewing (p < .05) during the exam period. Walking in nature improved mood more than watching nature scenes (p < .001) or physical exercise alone (p < .05).
Target :	Researchers ; Professionals ; Students
Permalink :	http://hdl.handle.net/10993/36426
DOI :	10.1177/0013916518800798
FnR project :	FnR ; FNR3965162 > Gunnthora Olafsdottir > BREATH > Breathing Spaces: Relating to Nature in the Everyday and its Connections to Health and Wellbeing > 01/09/2012 > 31/08/2014 > 2012

	File(s) associated to this reference
	Fulltext file(s): File Commentary Version Size Access Limited access Olafsdottir 2020.pdf Publisher postprint 774.69 kB Request a copy

All documents in ORBi^lu are protected by a user license.

 

University of Luxembourg Library |  Feedback |  Legal notices Site Map