Psychological benefits of guided hiking in urban population : environmental and personal associated factors
González Estévez, Eva (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
Comendador Vázquez, Laura (Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT))
Mateo Canedo, Corel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Evolutiva i de l'Educació)
Sanz Ruiz, Antoni (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Evolutiva i de l'Educació)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psiquiatria i de Medicina Legal
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Recerca de l'Esport

Additional title:	Beneficios psicológicos del senderismo guiado entre la población urbana : factores ambientales y personales asociados
Date:	2026
Description:	17 pàg.
Abstract:	There is growing evidence indicating that “green exercise” offers benefits for health and well5 being, both in the short and long term. This study explores the psychological benefits of hiking in nature among people living in urban areas. A total of 181 hikers participating in 10 group guided hiking routes in mountain areas were enrolled in this study. With an ex-post-facto design, a statistically significant increase was observed after hiking in dominance and self-efficacy, both with large effect sizes (Cohen’s d = 0. 8), and in affective valence and social bonding, with very large effect sizes (d = 1. 8 and d = 2. 3, respectively). Likewise, a large reduction in stress was observed (d = -0. 8). No significant trends were observed for fatigue, attention, or arousal. Gender, education level, economic income, loneliness, and region of residence appeared to be related to interindividual variability in outcomes. It is concluded that green exercise can improve psychological health, and some personal and environmental associated factors to these benefits should be considered.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Green exercise ; Physical activity ; Hiking ; Natural environment ; Well-being ; Urban population
Published in:	PsyEcology, 29 06 2026, ISSN 2171-1976

DOI: 10.1177/21711976261455210

17 p, 362.1 KB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles