Outdoor exercise and mental health
- NOTOC**
Outdoor Exercise and Mental Health
Green Exercise and Mental Well-Being
Outdoor exercise, often called green exercise, combines physical activity with exposure to natural settings such as parks, forests, gardens, trails, and open landscapes. The uploaded research summary shows that green exercise is repeatedly associated with improved mood, reduced stress, stronger well-being, and lower symptoms of anxiety and depression. Recent meta-analyses and reviews suggest that outdoor physical activity may provide added psychological benefits compared with indoor exercise or no exercise.
Green exercise may help mental health through several overlapping pathways. Movement supports mood regulation and physical health, while natural environments may encourage stress recovery, attention restoration, emotional balance, and a sense of connection. Outdoor settings may also make exercise feel more enjoyable, which can help people maintain regular activity over time.
Walking, Hiking, Cycling, and Outdoor Recreation
Simple outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, cycling, and recreational movement appear throughout the research as practical ways to support mental health. Nature walks are linked with improvements in anxiety, depression, positive affect, and stress recovery. Hiking may improve mood, reduce stress, support cognitive function, and help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression. Cycling is also described as a health-supporting outdoor activity connected with lower stress, improved self-perceived health, and better mental well-being.
Outdoor recreation may be especially important because it combines movement, fresh air, sunlight, social interaction, and time away from routine stressors. Studies also suggest that reduced access to outdoor recreation may be associated with higher perceived stress and depressive symptoms.
Green Spaces, Blue Spaces, and Access
The mental health benefits of outdoor activity are shaped by access to safe, attractive, and usable environments. Green spaces such as parks, forests, tree-lined streets, and gardens can support walking, exercise, relaxation, and social connection. Blue spaces such as rivers, lakes, coasts, and waterfronts may also support well-being by encouraging movement, restoration, and leisure activity.
Urban design and environmental quality matter. People are more likely to benefit from outdoor exercise when green and blue spaces are nearby, safe, welcoming, and well maintained. Unequal access to high-quality outdoor spaces can limit the mental health benefits for some communities, especially in cities or disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Nature-Based Prescriptions and Outdoor Care
The uploaded material highlights growing interest in nature prescriptions, green social prescribing, and outdoor care. These approaches connect people to forest walks, gardening, park visits, outdoor physical activity, group nature programs, and other structured nature-based routines. Health professionals may use these programs to support mental health, reduce inactivity, build social connection, and encourage healthier daily habits.
Nature-based prescriptions are not a replacement for needed medical or mental health treatment, but they may serve as a supportive public health tool. They can be especially useful when they are accessible, culturally appropriate, affordable, and connected to local parks, trails, gardens, and community programs.
Forest Bathing, Gardening, and Nature-Based Therapy
Forest bathing, forest therapy, gardening, and other nature-based interventions are repeatedly linked with emotional and psychological benefits. Forest bathing research suggests reductions in stress, anxiety, depression, and negative emotions. Gardening combines light physical activity, routine, purpose, sensory engagement, and contact with soil and plants, making it a practical activity for improving well-being and quality of life.
Nature-based therapy and group outdoor programs may also support self-esteem, motivation, social interaction, resilience, and recovery from stress-related conditions. These practices may work best when people can participate regularly and safely in environments that feel restorative rather than stressful.
Indoor Versus Outdoor Exercise
Exercise in general is strongly connected with better mental health. Regular physical activity can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve sleep, support mood, and strengthen overall well-being. The uploaded material, however, emphasizes that outdoor exercise may add benefits beyond exercise alone.
Outdoor activity may feel more enjoyable, restorative, and motivating than indoor exercise for some people. Natural environments may reduce stress and improve mood while movement supports physical and psychological health. This makes outdoor exercise a promising approach for people who struggle to maintain indoor workout routines.
Public Health Importance
Outdoor exercise can be a low-cost, scalable public health strategy. Walking in parks, gardening, hiking, cycling, outdoor group exercise, and forest bathing are examples of activities that can be adapted for different ages, abilities, and communities. Schools, clinics, cities, and community organizations can support mental health by improving access to safe outdoor spaces and encouraging regular nature-based activity.
The research also points to the importance of equity. Outdoor exercise is most useful when people have realistic access to green and blue spaces, safe walking routes, transportation, shade, seating, clean environments, and inclusive programming.
Conclusion
The uploaded material shows broad and growing evidence that outdoor exercise supports mental health. Green exercise, walking, hiking, cycling, gardening, forest bathing, blue-space recreation, and nature prescriptions can reduce stress, improve mood, support well-being, and help address symptoms of anxiety and depression. While outdoor exercise is not a substitute for professional care when needed, it is a practical and promising tool for public health, prevention, and everyday emotional resilience.
- TOC**
Comparative Efficacy of Green Exercise Versus Indoor Exercise for Mental Health
| Y. Liang et al. | Frontiers in Public Health | 2026
This network meta-analysis found that green exercise ranked higher than indoor exercise and no-exercise controls for improving mental health outcomes, supporting outdoor physical activity as a public health tool.
Effects of Green Exercise on Mental Health
| X. Liu et al. | Frontiers in Psychology | 2026
This systematic review and meta-analysis found that green exercise improves well-being, increases positive affect, and reduces negative emotions such as anxiety, stress, and depression.
From Prescription to Practice: Improving Patient Access to Nature-Based Prescriptions
| M. Heimlich-McQuarters et al. | NIH / PMC | 2026
This article explains how green prescriptions can connect patients to forest walks, outdoor activity, gardening, and other nature-based routines that may support mental health.
An Integrative Review of the Physical, Mental, and Social Benefits of Hiking
| T. Peng et al. | NIH / PMC | 2026
This review reports that hiking can improve mood, reduce stress, support cognitive function, and help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
What If Physiotherapists Reimagined Physical Activity as Outdoor Care
| E. Swärdh et al. | Taylor & Francis | 2026
This article argues that physiotherapists and health professionals can treat outdoor movement as part of a wider approach to health, recovery, and mental well-being.
Cycling to Health
| S. Bradley et al. | Taylor & Francis | 2026
This qualitative study explores cycling as a health-supporting outdoor activity linked with lower stress, better self-perceived health, and improved mental well-being.
Mental Health Benefits of Urban Green Space Are Shaped by Access and Quality
| J. Douglas et al. | Taylor & Francis | 2026
This article examines how access to safe, attractive green spaces can influence mental health benefits for people living in cities.
The Relationship Among Nature Exposure, Psychological Well-Being, and Outdoor Activity
| Y. Wu et al. | Taylor & Francis | 2026
This article reviews how nature-based environments and outdoor activity can support psychological well-being through stress recovery, connection, and movement.
Spending Time Outdoors Can Boost Your Mental Health
| University of Utah Health Staff | University of Utah Health | 2026
This health article explains how even brief time outdoors can improve mood, focus, and stress recovery.
Exercise Can Be Frontline Treatment for Mild Depression
| Andrew Gregory | The Guardian | 2026
This article reports on research suggesting that aerobic exercise can help treat mild depression and anxiety, especially when movement is social and regular.
The Effects of Community-Based Green Exercise on Health and Well-Being
| E. Carter et al. | Taylor & Francis | 2025
This meta-analysis found small-to-moderate benefits from community green exercise programs for general health and mental health.
Effects of Urban Green Exercise on Mental Health
| G. Hu et al. | Frontiers in Public Health | 2025
This review found that urban green exercise can reduce anxiety and depression symptoms while improving mood, self-esteem, attention, and well-being.
The Effect of Outdoor Activity Intention on Depressive Mood
| F. Yu et al. | Healthcare | 2025
This study found that people who followed through on outdoor activity intentions reported lower depressive mood, suggesting that active engagement with nature matters.
Engaging in Physical Activity in Green Spaces at Night
| C. Jiang et al. | Behavioral Sciences | 2025
This study suggests that nighttime outdoor physical activity in green spaces may be linked with better happiness and mental well-being among college students.
Outdoor Activity Time and Depression Risk Among Adults
| K. Liu et al. | Frontiers in Psychology | 2025
This article reports that encouraging outdoor activity may help reduce depression risk, especially among middle-aged and older adults.
Green Exercise, Nature Connectedness, and Academic Burnout
| T. Liu et al. | Frontiers in Psychology | 2025
This study found that green exercise may protect students from academic burnout by strengthening nature connectedness and supporting resilience.
Nature-Based Activities and Mental Well-Being in Adults
| B. Okudan et al. | NIH / PMC | 2025
This article reviews evidence that nature-based activities can lower stress, reduce anxiety, and improve overall mental health.
Outdoor Recreation's Association With Mental Health and Well-Being
| C. Parkinson et al. | NIH / PMC | 2025
This study links reduced outdoor recreation with higher perceived stress and depressive symptoms, reinforcing outdoor activity as a mental health resource.
Effect of Nature-Based Health Interventions for Individuals With Mental Health Conditions
| N. H. Jessen et al. | NIH / PMC | 2025
This review found large reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms across nature-based health intervention studies.
Is Forest Bathing a Panacea for Mental Health Problems
| H. Chen et al. | NIH / PMC | 2025
This article reviews forest bathing research and finds evidence for reduced depression, anxiety, and negative emotions.
Benefits of Forest Therapy for Adult Mental Health
| X. Shang et al. | NIH / PMC | 2025
This article examines forest therapy as a mental health practice that may reduce depression and anxiety while improving positive thinking.
Five-Step Forest Bathing Protocol as a Nature-Based Solution
| A. Bressane et al. | NIH / PMC | 2025
This article proposes a structured forest bathing protocol for reducing anxiety and improving mental health through guided outdoor nature contact.
The Differential Effects of Dynamic, Static, and Combined Forest Bathing
| M. Yin et al. | NIH / PMC | 2025
This study suggests that combining walking-based and stillness-based forest bathing may improve psychological and physiological health in middle-aged and older adults.
Leveraging Blue Spaces for Public Health
| N. Smith et al. | NIH / PMC | 2025
This article explores how blue spaces such as rivers, lakes, and coasts can encourage physical activity and improve mental well-being.
Association Between Outdoor Physical Activity and Positive Mental Health
| C. Drapeau et al. | NIH / PMC | 2025
This study links outdoor physical activity with better positive mental health and stronger connection to nature.
A Preliminary Study on Physical Activity in the Natural Environment for Adolescents
| S. Gómez-Paniagua et al. | Healthcare | 2025
This study found that outdoor nature activities such as canoeing and canyoning improved life satisfaction and self-perceived physical condition among adolescents.
The Mental Benefits of Outdoor Exercise
| Greater Good Health Staff | Greater Good Health | 2025
This article summarizes how outdoor workouts may reduce stress, improve mood, and support depression and anxiety relief.
The Nature Prescription
| IDEA Health & Fitness Association Staff | IDEA Health & Fitness Association | 2025
This article explains how short bouts of green exercise, including walking or yoga outdoors, can help lift mood and support well-being.
Green Exercise, Blue Spaces and Active Leisure Events
| A. Gilburn et al. | Taylor & Francis | 2025
This article examines how green exercise and blue-space leisure events can support mental well-being, participation, and community health.
A Qualitative Study of How Exercise Makes Us Feel
| W. P. Tyne et al. | Taylor & Francis | 2025
This article explores how emotional responses to physical activity influence exercise habits and mental health outcomes.
The Impact of Gardening on Well-Being, Mental Health, and Quality of Life
| I. Panțiru et al. | NIH / PMC | 2024
This systematic review found that gardening is associated with improved mental well-being, quality of life, and emotional health.
Acute Effects of Outdoor Versus Indoor Exercise
| L. Peddie et al. | Taylor & Francis | 2024
This review found that outdoor exercise often feels more enjoyable than indoor exercise, which may help people sustain physical activity for mental health.
The Impact of Exercise on Depression
| M. N. Hossain et al. | NIH / PMC | 2024
This article reviews how regular exercise can reduce depressive symptoms and improve mental health by affecting brain chemistry and quality of life.
The Effect of Walking on Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms
| Z. Xu et al. | NIH / PMC | 2024
This review found that walking can help relieve depression and anxiety symptoms, including both indoor and outdoor walking.
Does Nature-Based Social Prescription Improve Mental Health
| R. Menhas et al. | NIH / PMC | 2024
This article examines how nature-based social prescribing may improve mood, health perception, and social connection.
How the Outdoors Can Improve Your Mood
| Cleveland Clinic Staff | Cleveland Clinic | 2024
This article explains how outdoor time can reduce stress hormones and support feel-good brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine.
The Mental Health Benefits of Nature
| Mayo Clinic Press Staff | Mayo Clinic Press | 2024
This article describes how time in nature can improve mood, reduce anxiety, and support cognition and memory.
Try This: Take It Outside
| Harvard Health Publishing Staff | Harvard Health Publishing | 2024
This article encourages regular outdoor activity as a way to reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep, and support long-term health.
Time Spent in Nature Can Boost Physical and Mental Well-Being
| Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Staff | Harvard Public Health | 2024
This article summarizes evidence linking green space exposure with physical and mental health benefits.
One Small Step: The Mental Health Benefits of Walking Outside
| Sara McCloskey | VCU Health | 2024
This article explains how walking outdoors can support mental health through movement, sunlight, and time away from daily stressors.
Inside Versus Outside: Which Workout Is Best
| Verywell Health Staff | Verywell Health | 2024
This article compares indoor and outdoor exercise and highlights how natural settings may add mood, stress, and anxiety benefits.
Walking Just 5,000 Steps a Day Can Reduce Depression Symptoms
| Verywell Health Staff | Verywell Health | 2024
This article reports on research linking daily walking with fewer depression symptoms and lower depression risk.
Green Social Prescribing: Challenges and Opportunities
| H. Frost et al. | NIH / PMC | 2023
This article explains how green social prescribing links people to nature-based activities that may support mental and physical health.
Nature-Based Therapy in Individuals With Mental Health Disorders
| L. Joschko et al. | NIH / PMC | 2023
This review found that nature-based therapy can improve self-esteem, motivation, social interaction, and depression symptoms.
The Effects of Outdoor Versus Indoor Exercise on Psychological Health
| M. Noseworthy et al. | NIH / PMC | 2023
This systematic review compares indoor and outdoor exercise and finds evidence that outdoor settings may provide added psychological benefits.
Green and Blue Space and Mental Health
| R. S. Geary et al. | NCBI Bookshelf | 2023
This chapter reviews evidence that green and blue outdoor spaces can affect mental health through physical activity, stress reduction, social contact, and restoration.
Neighbourhood and Leisure Exposure to Green and Blue Spaces
| R. S. Geary et al. | NCBI Bookshelf | 2023
This chapter explains how leisure visits to green and blue spaces may support well-being through walking, recreation, and psychological restoration.
Physical Activity and Depression and Anxiety Disorders
| M. N. Wanjau et al. | NIH / PMC | 2023
This article reviews evidence that physical activity reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety and can support mental health care.
The Mechanisms of Nature-Based Therapy on Depression
| M. Kang et al. | NIH / PMC | 2023
This review explores how nature-based therapy may improve depression through mindfulness, activity, social connection, and restorative environments.
The Effect of Outdoor and Indoor Group Exercise Classes on Stress
| R. C. Bramwell et al. | NIH / PMC | 2023
This study compares outdoor and indoor group exercise and suggests that outdoor exercise may reduce stress through the added benefits of natural settings.
The Park Rx Trial to Increase Physical Activity Among Children
| R. Zarr et al. | NIH / PMC | 2023
This park prescription trial examines whether prescribing park-based activity can increase movement and improve physical and mental health in children.
Prevention of Poor Physical and Mental Health Through Green Social Prescribing
| A. Makanjuola et al. | NIH / PMC | 2023
This article describes green social prescribing programs that use outdoor nature-based activities to improve health, reduce inactivity, and support social connection.
Does Physical Activity Mediate the Associations Between Blue Space and Mental Health
| E. Murrin et al. | NIH / PMC | 2023
This study examines whether physical activity helps explain the relationship between blue spaces and better mental health.
Physical Activity and Mental Health in Undergraduate Students
| G. Rodríguez-Romo et al. | NIH / PMC | 2023
This study links moderate and high physical activity levels with lower anxiety and depression among university students.
Role of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Well-Being
| A. Mahindru et al. | NIH / PMC | 2023
This review explains how physical activity supports mood, sleep, quality of life, and psychiatric health.
Physical Exercise and Major Depressive Disorder in Adults
| É. A. Pérez Bedoya et al. | Scientific Reports | 2023
This study evaluates exercise approaches for managing symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder.
Canonical Correlation Analysis of Depression, Anxiety, and Physical Activity
| L. Li et al. | Scientific Reports | 2023
This study examines relationships among physical activity, depression, and anxiety symptoms in college students.
Social Prescribing of Nature Therapy for Adults With Mental Illness
| T. Thomas et al. | NIH / PMC | 2022
This article reviews green social prescribing as a way to connect adults with mental illness to nature-based activities.
Nature-Based Interventions to Promote Health for People With Stress-Related Illness
| G. Johansson et al. | NIH / PMC | 2022
This review examines how nature-based programs can reduce stress and improve well-being for people experiencing stress-related conditions.
Psychological Benefits of Outdoor Physical Activity in Natural Environments
| C. Wicks et al. | NIH / PMC | 2022
This review found that outdoor activity in natural environments can improve anxiety, fatigue, positive affect, vigor, and depression compared with urban settings.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Nature Walks
| S. Grassini | NIH / PMC | 2022
This meta-analysis found that nature walks improve mental health, with positive effects on depression and anxiety.
Effects of Outdoor Walking on Positive and Negative Affect
| F. D. Legrand et al. | NIH / PMC | 2022
This article studies how outdoor walking can influence positive and negative emotions, including anxiety, fatigue, and mood.
Gardening Activity and Its Relationship to Mental Health
| H. E. Ainamani et al. | NIH / PMC | 2022
This review reports that gardening can improve psychological well-being and may help prevent mental health problems.
Green Exercise, Mental Health Symptoms, and State Lockdown Policies
| A. Das et al. | NIH / PMC | 2022
This study found that green exercise during the pandemic was associated with modest reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms.
Reducing Anxiety With Nature and Gardening
| M. E. Gerdes et al. | NIH / PMC | 2022
This study evaluates a gardening and nature intervention for reducing anxiety and increasing healthy outdoor engagement.
The Potential for Outdoor Nature-Based Interventions in Mental Health Care
| M. Owens et al. | NIH / PMC | 2022
This article explores outdoor therapies as possible tools for preventing and treating common mental health problems such as depression.
Outdoor Activity Participation Improves Adolescents' Mental Health
| S. B. Jackson et al. | NIH / PMC | 2021
This study found that outdoor activity and time in nature supported adolescent mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nature-Based Outdoor Activities for Mental and Physical Health
| P. A. Coventry et al. | NIH / PMC | 2021
This systematic review found that gardening, green exercise, and nature-based therapy improved adult mental health outcomes.
Relationship Between Green and Blue Spaces With Mental and Physical Health
| M. Geneshka et al. | NIH / PMC | 2021
This review summarizes longitudinal evidence linking green and blue space exposure with mental health and well-being.
Associations Between Nature Exposure and Health
| M. P. Jimenez et al. | NIH / PMC | 2021
This review found evidence connecting nature exposure with better mental health, physical activity, sleep, cognition, and stress recovery.
The Psychological and Physical Effects of Forests on Human Health
| M. Stier-Jarmer et al. | NIH / PMC | 2021
This review examines forest bathing and forest therapy as preventive and therapeutic practices for psychological and physical health.
Mechanisms of Impact of Blue Spaces on Human Health
| M. Georgiou et al. | NIH / PMC | 2021
This review explores how blue spaces may improve health through physical activity, restoration, social connection, and environmental quality.
Effect of Nature Walks on Depression and Anxiety
| Y. Kotera et al. | Sustainability | 2021
This systematic review found that nature walks consistently reduced state anxiety, while findings for depression were more mixed.
The Role of Blue and Green Exercise in Planetary Health
| N. Loureiro et al. | Sustainability | 2021
This article connects green and blue exercise with personal health, mental well-being, and environmental sustainability.
Effects of Three Levels of Green Exercise on Psychological Health
| K. T. Han | Sustainability | 2021
This study examines how different levels of green exercise relate to attention, mood, and psychological health.
Are Long-Distance Walks Therapeutic
| M. Mau et al. | NIH / PMC | 2021
This scoping review examines long-distance walking and hiking as potential therapeutic practices for depression, hopelessness, and well-being.
Nature Prescriptions for Health
| M. C. Kondo et al. | NIH / PMC | 2020
This review explains how nature prescription programs aim to increase physical activity, reduce chronic disease burden, and support mental health.
Effectiveness of Prescribing Physical Activity in Parks
| F. Müller-Riemenschneider et al. | NIH / PMC | 2020
This trial examined whether park prescriptions could increase physical activity and improve health-related behaviors.
Physical and Mental Health Effects of Repeated Short Walks in Blue Spaces
| C. Vert et al. | PubMed | 2020
This study found that short walks near blue spaces can improve mood and well-being.
Regular Doses of Nature
| M. Rogerson et al. | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | 2020
This study found that medium-term green exercise interventions can improve mental well-being through repeated outdoor activity.
Nurtured by Nature
| Kirsten Weir | American Psychological Association | 2020
This article summarizes research linking nature exposure with improved attention, lower stress, better mood, and reduced psychiatric risk.
Walking Green
| E. P. D. Koselka et al. | NIH / PMC | 2019
This study compared forest walking, urban walking, and daily living conditions to examine mental and physiological responses to nature walks.
Nature-Based Interventions for Improving Health and Wellbeing
| D. F. Shanahan et al. | NIH / PMC | 2019
This article reviews nature-based interventions that can increase exercise, reduce stress, reduce depression, and build resilience.
Physical Activity Mediates the Relationship Between Outdoor Time and Mental Health
| M. Bélanger et al. | NIH / PMC | 2019
This study found that physical activity may help explain the connection between outdoor time and better mental health.
The Effects of Green Exercise on Physical and Mental Wellbeing
| I. Lahart et al. | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | 2019
This review found limited but promising evidence that outdoor green exercise can improve affective valence and enjoyment compared with indoor exercise.
A Comparative Study of the Physiological and Psychological Effects of Forest Bathing
| A. Furuyashiki et al. | NIH / PMC | 2019
This study examines how forest bathing affects mood, stress physiology, and psychological well-being.
The Mediating Role of Different Types of Physical Activity in Blue Space Benefits
| T. P. Pasanen et al. | PubMed | 2019
This study examines how walking and other physical activity may explain the relationship between blue space exposure and well-being.
The Health Benefits of the Great Outdoors
| C. Twohig-Bennett et al. | NIH / PMC | 2018
This systematic review found broad health benefits from greenspace exposure, including pathways connected to stress, mood, and physical activity.
Effects of Walking in Bamboo Forest and City Environments
| A. Hassan et al. | NIH / PMC | 2018
This study compared walking in bamboo forest and urban environments and found benefits for stress and psychological health.
A Scoping Review of the Evidence for Walking and Mental Health
| P. Kelly et al. | PubMed | 2018
This review found a growing but fragmented evidence base linking walking with mental health benefits.
The Importance of Greenspace for Mental Health
| J. Barton et al. | NIH / PMC | 2017
This article argues that regular physical activity in natural environments is linked with lower risk of poor mental health.
Shinrin-Yoku and Nature Therapy
| M. M. Hansen et al. | NIH / PMC | 2017
This review describes forest bathing and nature therapy as practices linked with lower depression, lower stress, and improved quality of life.
Outdoor Blue Spaces, Human Health and Well-Being
| M. Gascon et al. | PubMed | 2017
This review found a positive association between outdoor blue space exposure and mental health and well-being.
The Relationship Between Physical Activity Environment and Psychological Well-Being
| E. Lawton et al. | Frontiers in Psychology | 2017
This article reviews research on how green exercise environments can reduce stress, anxiety, and psychological discomfort.
Promoting Nature-Based Activity for People With Mental Illness
| J. Maier et al. | NIH / PMC | 2016
This article discusses countryside walks, hiking, horseback riding, and other nature-based physical activities for people with mental health challenges.
The Great Outdoors
| V. F. Gladwell et al. | NIH / PMC | 2013
This article reviews how green exercise environments can support mental health, physical health, and activity adherence.
Physical Activity and Physical Education: Relationship to Mental Health
| H. W. Kohl III et al. | NCBI Bookshelf | 2013
This chapter explains how physical activity can reduce anxiety and depression, improve mood, and support mental health across age groups.
Does Participating in Physical Activity in Outdoor Natural Environments Have a Greater Effect
| J. T. Coon et al. | NCBI Bookshelf | 2011
This review found promising evidence that exercising in natural environments improves mental well-being more than exercising indoors.
The Health Benefits of Walking in Greenspaces of High Natural and Heritage Value
| J. Barton et al. | Taylor & Francis | 2009
This article examines how walking in high-quality greenspaces can improve mood, reduce stress, and support psychological health.
Effect of Forest Bathing Trips on Human Immune Function
| Q. Li et al. | NIH / PMC | 2009
This study discusses forest bathing as a practice that may reduce psychosocial stress and support health through time spent in forest environments.
Green Health: A Tree-Filled Street Can Positively Influence Depression
| Adam Gabbatt | The Guardian | 2021
This article reports on research and community examples showing how urban trees and greener streets may support mental health in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Exercise and Access to the Outdoors During COVID-19
| American Psychiatric Association Staff | American Psychiatric Association | 2020
This article explains how maintaining exercise and outdoor access can support mental well-being during periods of stress and isolation.
The Mental Health Benefits of Exercising Outdoors
| Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association Staff | ANZMH | 2022
This article summarizes how outdoor exercise may reduce anxiety sensitivity, lower stress, increase energy, and improve well-being.
Dig Into the Benefits of Gardening
| Mayo Clinic Health System Staff | Mayo Clinic Health System | 2022
This article explains how gardening combines movement, routine, nature contact, and purpose to reduce stress and anxiety.
Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms
| Mayo Clinic Staff | Mayo Clinic | 2023
This article explains how exercise can improve mood and lessen anxiety by supporting physical health, brain chemistry, and routine.
Exercise and Mental Health
| Better Health Channel Staff | Better Health Channel | 2024
This article explains that regular exercise is linked with better mental health, emotional well-being, and lower rates of mental illness.
8 Reasons Exercising Outdoors Is Great for Your Health
| Verywell Health Staff | Verywell Health | 2025
This article describes how outdoor exercise can reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, improve mood, support sleep, and increase self-esteem.
5 Health Benefits of Exercising Outdoors
| EatingWell Staff | EatingWell | 2026
This article highlights how outdoor exercise may reduce stress, improve mood, strengthen motivation, and support attention and memory.
Green Exercise: Why an Outdoor Workout Will Make You Fitter and Slimmer
| The Times Staff | The Times | 2025
This article summarizes evidence that outdoor workouts can improve mood, reduce anxiety and anger, and make exercise feel more enjoyable.
Mental Health Tip of the Day: Step Outside for 20 Minutes of Natural Light
| Times of India Staff | The Times of India | 2025
This article explains how short outdoor walks and natural light exposure may reduce stress, improve mood, and support sleep rhythms.
Outdoor Activities and Their Role in Optimizing Health and Performance
| Frontiers Editorial Staff | Frontiers | 2026
This research topic highlights outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, swimming, and hiking as practices connected to stress reduction, cognition, and health.
Space Prescription
| G. Ganbaatar et al. | NIH / PMC | 2024
This article discusses prescription-style programs that use outdoor environments and activity to improve well-being and health behavior.
Prescribing Time in Nature for Human Health and Well-Being
| C. L. Schultz et al. | NIH / PMC | 2022
This article reviews evidence that nature-based prescriptions can increase physical activity and support mental health and well-being.
Activity in Nature Mediates a Park Prescription Intervention's Effects
| N. Petrunoff et al. | NIH / PMC | 2021
This study found that activity in nature helped explain how park prescription interventions affected health-related outcomes.
Increased Wellbeing Following Engagement in a Group Nature-Based Programme
| N. Smyth et al. | NIH / PMC | 2022
This study found that group nature-based activity programs such as Green Gym can improve well-being through movement, social contact, and outdoor engagement.
A Co-Produced Exploration of the Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors
| C. McCartan et al. | NIH / PMC | 2023
This article explores how mental health service users experience the benefits and barriers of spending time outdoors.
Outdoor Walking, Affect, and Everyday Mental Health
| F. D. Legrand et al. | NIH / PMC | 2022
This article shows how outdoor walking can shift emotional states, making simple movement outside a practical mental health strategy.
Forest Environment and Shinrin-Yoku Effects on Health
This article reviews forest bathing research showing reductions in stress and improvements in physical and mental health markers.
Park Proximity and Use for Physical Activity Among Urban Residents
| S. L. Orstad et al. | NIH / PMC | 2020
This study examines how living near and using parks can support physical activity, quality of life, and mental health among urban residents.
A Scoping Review of the Health Benefits of Nature-Based Physical Activity
| R. W. Christiana et al. | NIH / PMC | 2021
This review supports strategies that increase nature-based physical activity because outdoor movement may provide added health and wellness benefits.
Physical Activity Interventions for Mental Health in University Students
| Nature Index Staff | Nature Index | 2025
This article summarizes evidence that physical activity interventions can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms among university students.
The Effects of Exercise and Social Interaction in Different Outdoor Environments
| Y. Song et al. | Sustainability | 2022
This study found that exercise and social interaction in natural outdoor landscapes can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
Reassessing Green Exercise Research
| L. Laezza et al. | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living | 2024
This article reviews green exercise research and argues that nature exposure and physical activity may work together to improve affect and reduce stress.
Outdoor Blue Spaces and the Health of Older Adults
| L. Wang et al. | PubMed | 2024
This review examines how outdoor blue spaces may support human health and well-being, including mental health benefits through activity and restoration.
