An area gaining recognition in the mental health literature is the benefit of “green exercise.” A literature review evaluating the impact of indoor versus outdoor exercise on mental health in 833 young adults found an overall positive association, especially in the categories of tension, anger, confusion, depression and greater enjoyment and satisfaction with outdoor activity, as well as increased self-reported improvement in mental wellbeing immediately following outdoor exercise as compared to indoor exercise (Thompson, 2011).
Leigh Gistinger, CPNP
