Outdoor activities effectively reduce depression risk in older adults: Study

A new study published in the recent issue of Frontiers in Psychology journal showed that promoting outdoor activities might be a useful public health tactic to lower the incidence of depression, especially for middle-aged and older individuals as well as members of particular ethnic groups. An estimated 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression, which is a major contributor to the global illness burden and economic difficulties.

Nearly 8.4% of individuals in the US alone face depression each year which reminds strongly the urgent need for efficient preventative and therapeutic measures. Outdoor activities have drawn attention among other therapies because of their potential to support mental health through special physiological and psychological processes. Increasing physical activity, boosting vitamin D production, lowering stress, and improving sleep quality are a few of them.

Prior research has shed important light on the advantages of outdoor activities, one such study showed that outdoor exercise was superior to indoor exercise in increasing vitality and optimism and that it considerably enhanced mood and psychological well-being. Individual variations in age and race may also influence how people react to outdoor activities.

This study uses data from the NHANES 2011–2018 to assess the association between outdoor time and depression in U.S. adults. This research aimed to offer solid evidence for incorporating outdoor activities into public health policies and tailoring treatments to fit the requirements of varied populations by concentrating on disparities across age and ethnic groups.

This study examined a total of 9,036 persons aged 20 and above using data from the NHANES 2011–2018 survey. The participants reported on their own as to how much time they spent outside and how depressed they were. The association between outdoor exercise and depression risk was evaluated using statistical analysis that took into consideration a number of demographic and lifestyle characteristics.

A 51% decreased incidence of depression was linked to spending more time outside. According to subgroup analysis, this connection was especially strong for non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks, as well as persons 40 years of age and older. Overall, spending more time outside is substantially linked to a lower incidence of depression, especially for middle-aged and older persons, non-Hispanic white people, and Black people. These results highlight outdoor recreation as a useful and affordable way to improve mental health.

Source:

Liu, K., Guo, C., Xie, J., & Cheng, L. (2025). Outdoor activity time and depression risk among adults aged 40 years and older: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2011–2018 data. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1506168