HERE’S HOW RUNNING COULD BOOST YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Running is one of, if not the single most popular form of exercise in the world.
In fact, in 2017, the US alone had an estimated 47 million regular runners.
But why do we run?
The physical health benefits of running are well-established, such as boosting cardiovascular health, improved biological markers, and even weight loss – but what about our mental health? How does running help us mentally, as well as physically?
As mental health slowly but surely, becomes less of a taboo subject and more of a daily conversation, studies in this field have also become more comprehensive – allowing us to delve deeper into the mental health benefits of running, and how lacing up and hitting the road, track or field may benefit us far more than just physically.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT RUNNING CAN HAVE ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH:
- Reduction in symptoms of depression
- Increased stress resilience
- Improvement in the ability to relax
- Lower risk of developing anxiety disorders
- An increase in dopamine promotes a positive mood state
CAN RUNNING MAKE YOU HAPPIER?
We definitely think so, but ‘think’ isn’t good enough. Luckily, Dr. Brendon Stubbs, a researcher at Kings College London, led a small-scale study that looked at three elite athletes and six everyday athletes.
With each participant wearing a headset, a baseline score was taken before 20-minute bouts of exercise were completed by participants. The results were impressive, with an 18% increase in participants’ ability to relax, a 28% reduction in rash decision-making, and a 29% improvement in stress resilience.
Highlighting the correlation between physical health and mental well-being, Dr. Brendon Stubbs’s research also indicated that the mental health benefits recorded for regular participants were greater than those of elite athletes.
Researchers at Lowa State University also noted findings that exercising for thirty minutes may reduce symptoms of anxiety, lasting for over seventy-five minutes post-exercise.
So yes, running may indeed make you happier.
