Outdoor Activity Associated with Higher Self-Reported Emotional Well-Being During COVID-19

M. Pilar Fernandez; Kacey C. Ernst; Gebbiena M. Bron; Kevin Berry; Maria A. Diuk-Wasser; Mary H. Hayden

doi:10.1007/s10393-022-01598-4

Outdoor Activity Associated with Higher Self-Reported Emotional Well-Being During COVID-19

M. Pilar Fernandez, Kacey C. Ernst, Gebbiena M. Bron, Kevin Berry, Maria A. Diuk-Wasser, Mary H. Hayden

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Shifts in activity patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic might have impacted the benefits of outdoor activities for mental health. By leveraging an existing mobile application, we collected self-reported data on daily outdoor activities, emotional well-being, and the influence of COVID-19 on participant’s outdoor activity levels during April–July 2020. Individuals reporting outdoor activities, in greenspaces or in their residence, had higher well-being scores and this effect increased with age. Self-reported impacts of COVID-19 on emotional well-being were associated with lower well-being scores. This work suggests that outdoor activities may have improved mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	154-158
Number of pages	5
Journal	EcoHealth
Volume	19
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-022-01598-4
State	Published - Jun 2022

Keywords

COVID-19
Mental health
Outdoor activities
Well-being

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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10.1007/s10393-022-01598-4

Cite this

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title = "Outdoor Activity Associated with Higher Self-Reported Emotional Well-Being During COVID-19",

abstract = "Shifts in activity patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic might have impacted the benefits of outdoor activities for mental health. By leveraging an existing mobile application, we collected self-reported data on daily outdoor activities, emotional well-being, and the influence of COVID-19 on participant{\textquoteright}s outdoor activity levels during April–July 2020. Individuals reporting outdoor activities, in greenspaces or in their residence, had higher well-being scores and this effect increased with age. Self-reported impacts of COVID-19 on emotional well-being were associated with lower well-being scores. This work suggests that outdoor activities may have improved mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.",

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AU - Berry, Kevin

AU - Diuk-Wasser, Maria A.

AU - Hayden, Mary H.

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Outdoor Activity Associated with Higher Self-Reported Emotional Well-Being During COVID-19

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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