Winter Bathing in Denmark: A Qualitative Case Study on Winter Bathing’s Impact on Mental Health
In conclusion, regular winter bathing enhanced the participants' mental health. A relatively short time in the ice-cold water provided mental peace which transferred to the rest of daily life in general, which emphasizes the mental health-promoting potential of winter bathing. Positive emotions were cultivated through exposure to blue spaces, including inner calm and a sense of safety. Winter bathing also served as a space for social connectedness and community building, facilitated by the club environment in which meaningful social interactions occurred.
Authors
- Anders Petersen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5667-7469)
- Nevena Jensen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7590-1071)
- Elisabeth Bomholt Østergaard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1231-3464)
- Jesper Dahlgaard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1798-6799)
- Anna Jensen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1801-5522)
- Pernille Wobeser Sparre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2525-7112)
- Linda van den Hengel
Institutions
- Aarhus University (DK)
- VIA University College (DK)
- Aalborg University (DK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Healthcare
- Published
- 2024-10-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12202076
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Outdoor and Experiential Education
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.93