Great Outdoors: Study Finds Link Between Spending Time Outside and Health Paul Watson - AskMen
go to original August 16, 2016

Your parents probably always told you to go outside because it’s good for you. Is there any truth to this, or were they just trying to get you out of their hair? (DNews)

New research suggests that problems with body image and self esteem can be directly combatted by heading outside and getting some fresh air.

A survey led by Viren Swami, a professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge investigated how being outdoors changes the way we feel about ourselves and found some striking statistics.

For this research, 199 women and 200 men from the US aged between 19 and 76 were given an online survey that contained statements about their body image and then asked to rate how much the statements applied to them on a scale of 1 to 5.

Example statements were: “When I see good-looking people, I wonder about how my looks measure up” and “I feel pressure from family members to look thinner”.

The participants were then asked how much they went outdoors in their normal day-to-day life. Interestingly, the results showed a direct correlation - those who spent more time in nature showed a greater appreciation of their own body and generally felt happier.

“Spending time in a natural environment may help us develop a sense of ownership over our physical selves, gives us a greater respect for our bodies, and a better understanding of what our bodies can do rather than what our bodies look like,” Swami explained.

The results suggest that camping trips or going hiking could be a useful form of therapy for those with serious problems linked to their body image such as eating disorders.

Read the rest at AskMen

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