Research articles

Walking against depression
– a brief report

May 26, 2020

Martin Mau^1,2, Kirstine Wehner Rasmussen¹, Mikkel Jacobsen¹,
& Kirsten K. Roessler¹¹Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark
²Centre for Applied Welfare Research, UCL University College

Walking as an easy applicable form of physical activity might be especially well suited to treat mental health challenges. The aim of this brief report is to examine how walking interventions against depression should be conducted. Through a review of international studies, this article finds that an intervention consisting of individual walking with three weekly sessions for at least 12 weeks is recommendable. In addition, studies suggest that different types of walking can be implemented effectively depending on the different needs and physical capacities of the participants. Walking as an everyday activity can function as a supplement to depression treatment.

Download the full-text article here!

MARTIN MAU is MSc in psychology and PhD student in the fields of environmental psychology and physical activity at the Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark and at the Department of Health, Social Work and Welfare Research at UCL University College. His PhD-project (main supervisor: prof. Kirsten K. Roessler) focuses on psychological processes during long-distance walking.

KIRSTINE WEHNER RASMUSSEN and MIKKEL JACOBSEN have both a Bachelor degree in psychology from June 2019. They are currently studying on their Master degree at the Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, and will graduate in June 2021.

KIRSTEN KAYA ROESSLER is professor and dr.phil. in Health and Environmental Psychology. She has completed clinical educations in psychodynamic group analysis and in cognitive therapy and is the research leader of the group InCoRE (Interventions, Communication, Relations & Environment) at the Department of Psychology at the University of Southern Denmark.