• Advertise
  • About us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Australian Times News
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
Australian Times News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Heading outdoors will help keep those lockdown blues at bay

Researchers confirm that if we’re outdoors – particularly in green spaces – we’ll have lower levels of depression and anxiety during lockdowns.

Mike Simpson by Mike Simpson
10-01-2021 07:00
in News
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

A new study jointly led by academics from the Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in the UK has confirmed what many of us already suspected – spending time outdoors and switching off our devices is associated with higher levels of happiness during a period of Covid-19 restrictions.

Previous studies have indicated how being outdoors, particularly in green spaces, can improve mental health by promoting a more positive body image and lowering levels of depression and anxiety.

Researchers from ARU, the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences in Austria, and Perdana University in Malaysia, examined how levels of happiness during a national lockdown were affected by being outdoors, the amount of daily screen time (use of TV, computer and smartphone) and feelings of loneliness.

Researchers closely monitored almost 300 adults

Using an experience sampling method, the researchers measured levels of happiness amongst a group of 286 adults three times a day, at random intervals, over a 21-day period. This allowed the participants to provide data in real-time rather than retrospectively, helping to avoid recall biases.

The research, recently published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, was carried out in April 2020, when the Austrian participants were allowed to leave their homes only for specific activities, which included exercise.

It found that levels of happiness were higher when participants were outdoors rather than indoors. In addition, more daily screen time and higher levels of loneliness were both associated with lower levels of happiness. The impact of loneliness on happiness was also weaker when participants were outdoors.

“While lockdowns can help slow down the transmission of Covid-19, research has also shown that prolonged periods of lockdown take their toll on mental health,” said co-lead author, Viren Swami, who is Professor of Social Psychology at ARU.

AlsoRead...

May's Weather Forecast

Weather Forecast 20 August 2022

20 August 2022
May's Weather Forecast

Weather Forecast 19 August 2022

19 August 2022

Being outdoors benefits psychological wellbeing

“Our results are important in this context because they show that being able to spend time outdoors under conditions of lockdown has a beneficial impact on psychological wellbeing. Being outdoors provides opportunities to escape from the stresses of being confined at home, maintain social relationships with others, and engage in physical activity – all of which can improve mental health.”

Swami said the findings have practical health policy implications. Given that further lockdown restrictions have now become necessary in the UK, public health messages that promote getting some fresh air instead of staying indoors and staring at screens could help to lift people’s mood this Northern Hemisphere winter.

Tags: COVID-19 researchMedical scienceResearchScientific research
DMCA.com Protection Status

SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER

[mc4wp_form id=”2384248″]

Don't Miss

Horoscopes: 20 August 2022 – Saturday

by Adamu
20 August 2022
Free Daily Horoscope - Astrology
Horoscopes

Keep your karma positive with these daily free horoscopes!

Read more

Weather Forecast 20 August 2022

by Adamu
20 August 2022
May's Weather Forecast
Australia Weather

Be prepared for any weather with our daily weather forecast for Australia.

Read more

Horoscopes: 19 August 2022 – Friday

by Adamu
19 August 2022
Free Daily Horoscope - Astrology
Horoscopes

Keep your karma positive with these daily free horoscopes!

Read more

Weather Forecast 19 August 2022

by Adamu
19 August 2022
May's Weather Forecast
Australia Weather

Be prepared for any weather with our daily weather forecast for Australia.

Read more

Horoscopes: 18 August 2022 – Thursday

by Adamu
18 August 2022
Free Daily Horoscope - Astrology
Horoscopes

Keep your karma positive with these daily free horoscopes!

Read more

Weather Forecast 18 August 2022

by Adamu
18 August 2022
May's Weather Forecast
Australia Weather

Be prepared for any weather with our daily weather forecast for Australia.

Read more

6 Newbie Tactics for Betting on Sports

by Alan Aldridge
18 August 2022
6 Newbie Tactics for Betting on Sports
Gambling

Australia is a nation that adores sports - it runs right through its identity. If they’re not outdoors playing a...

Read more
Load More

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status

  • About us
  • Write for Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • T&Cs, Privacy and GDPR
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status