The meaning of cold bathing in middle aged and elderly people in Sweden - a phenomenological hermeneutic study

Cold baths have been used in various cultures for centuries, with modern scientific interest growing over the past few decades. The aim of this phenomenological hermeneutic study was to explore the meaning of outdoor cold bathing of people who regularly engage in that practice. Nine people, seven women and two men aged 44 to 70, who regularly cold bathed in Sweden participated in the study. They were interviewed during the winter-spring of 2025. Participants described cold bathing as a powerful coping mechanism during periods of stress and life transition, often beginning in midlife when facing personal or professional challenges. Cold bathing was described as a powerful practice that not only challenges the body but also uplifts the mind, often becoming a valued ritual for both physical recovery and emotional renewal. Being in nature was an important part of the holiness of the experience.