Mackay Neill 2010 The effect of green exercise on state anxiety
From Wilderdom
Mackay, G. J. S., & Neill, J. T. (2010). The effect of “green exercise” on state anxiety and the role of exercise duration, intensity, and greenness: A quasi-experimental study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 11(3), 238-245. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2010.01.002
- Official page (Abstract and access to commercially available, online version] (Science Direct)
- Originally submitted version of the manuscript
- Honours thesis (2008)
- Field of Research:
- Socio-economic codes:
- 970117 Expanding Knowledge in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences (100%)
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the short-term effects of “green exercise” on state anxiety, and to examine the influence of exercise type, intensity, duration, and degree of greenness.
Method: A quasi-experimental design involved eight pre-existing outdoor exercise groups (N = 101) who completed pre- and post-exercise questionnaires.
Results: Results indicated a significant reduction in participants’ state anxiety following green exercise experiences (d = .47). However, there was a significant interaction between anxiety changes and the type of green exercise, with effect sizes for the groups ranging between 0.14 and 1.07. Exercise intensity and duration did not impact on state anxiety changes, however higher degrees of perceived environmental greenness were associated with larger reductions in anxiety.
Conclusions: Green exercise effected moderate short-term reductions in anxiety, with greater reductions evident for some exercise groups and for participants who perceived themselves to be exercising in more natural environments. These findings support claims for mental health benefits of green exercise but they also highlight the need to better understand individual and group differences and the role of perceived environmental “greenness”.
Key words
Green exercise; Anxiety; Exercise intensity; Exercise duration; Greenness; Sport psychology
Article outline
Introduction
- Psychological effects of exercise
- Effects of aerobic exercise on anxiety
- Exercise duration
- Exercise intensity
- Green exercise
- Nature, mental health, and restoration
- Engagement with nature
- Viewing nature
- Presence of nature
- Participation with nature
- Green exercise research
- Hypotheses
Method
- Participants
- Measures
- Pre-test
- Post-test
- Greenness rating scale
- Borg scale
- Procedure
Results
- Changes in state anxiety for different exercise groups
- Effects of greenness, duration, and intensity of green exercise
Discussion
- Changes in state anxiety following green exercise
- Changes in state anxiety for different green exercise groups
- Effects of level of greenness, duration, and intensity of green exercise on state anxiety
- Nature, greenness and exercise
- Mechanisms for anxiety reduction from green exercise
- Limitations and future directions
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References
