Winter bathing in Denmark. A qualitative case study on winter bathing’s impact on mental health

Elisabeth Bomholt Østergaard; Anders Aagaard Petersen; Linda van den Hengel; Anne Møller Jensen; Nikolaj Bonde Jensen; Pernille Sparre; Jesper Dahlgaard

doi:10.3390/healthcare12202076

Winter bathing in Denmark. A qualitative case study on winter bathing’s impact on mental health

Elisabeth Bomholt Østergaard, Anders Aagaard Petersen, Linda van den Hengel, Anne Møller Jensen, Nikolaj Bonde Jensen, Pernille Sparre, Jesper Dahlgaard

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftsartikel › Forskning › peer review

Abstract

Mental disease constitutes 25 % of the total burden of disease in Denmark. In the last few years an increasing tendency for seeking the ocean has arised, and winter bathing is one of the outdoor ac-tivities with a large rise in popularity. The purpose of this study was to explore if and how regular winter bathing in blue spaces can affect people’s mental health. The study employed a qualitative design using fieldwork with semi-structured interviews with four members from three different winter bathing clubs. The empirical data were thematically analyzed followed by theoretically analysis. The results revealed five themes: Social connectedness; Blue nature as a free space; The motivation behind; It’s more than an ice-cold shock; and Mental peace due to winter bathing. The results suggest that winter bathing in blue spaces contributed to improved mental health for the informants. In conclusions, regular winter bathing enhanced the participants’ mental health. Rela-tively short time in the ice-cold water provide

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Artikelnummer	2076
Tidsskrift	Healthcare
Vol/bind	12
Udgave nummer	20
Antal sider	22
ISSN	2227-9032
DOI	https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12202076
Status	Udgivet - 2024

Emneord

Sundhed, ernæring og livskvalitet
anchor to the present moment
anchor to the presentrelaxed attitude to one’s own body.
blue nature
blue space
connectedness to one self
ice-cold shock
mental health
mental peace
nature connectedness
normal bodies
sense of safety
social connectedness
winter bathing
winter swimming

Adgang til dokumentet

10.3390/healthcare12202076Licens: CC BY

Andre filer og links

https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/20/2076

2 Abstrakt
2 Tidsskriftsartikel

Vinterbadning i Danmark. Et kvalitativt studie af vinterbadnings indflydelse på mentalt velbefindende
Østergaard, E. B., Petersen, A. A., Hengel, L. V. D., Jensen, A. M., Jensen, N. B., Sparre, P. & Dahlgaard, J., 13 mar. 2025.
Publikation: Konferencebidrag uden forlag/tidsskrift › Abstrakt › Forskning › peer review
Frihed på vandet med SUP. 2½ års follow-up studie.
Sparre, P., Østergaard, E. B. & Dahlgaard, J., 2024.
Publikation: Konferencebidrag uden forlag/tidsskrift › Abstrakt › Forskning › peer review
Freedom on Water through Stand-Up Paddling: A qualitative study on physical bodily experiences and their influence on mental health
Sparre, P. W. & Østergaard, E. B., 14 mar. 2023, I: Scandinavian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 5, s. 10-20 11 s.
Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftsartikel › Forskning › peer review

Åben adgang
Two-and-a-Half-Year Follow-Up Study with Freedom on Water through Stand-Up Paddling: Exploring Experiences in Blue Spaces and Their Long-Term Impact on Mental Well-Being
Østergaard, E. B., Sparre, P. & Dahlgaard, J., 13 maj 2023, I: Healthcare. 12, 10, 22 s.
Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftsartikel › Forskning › peer review

Åben adgang

1 Igangværende

Blue Health
Dahlgaard, J. (Projektleder), Østergaard, E. B. (Projektdeltager), Sparre, P. W. (Projektdeltager), Hansen, P. K. (Projektleder) & Lassen, J. (Projektdeltager)
09/01/23 → 31/12/25
Projekter: Projekt › Forskning

Vinterbadning og SUP som Sundhedsfremmeaktiviteter –Evidensen er der, men vil vi sundhedsprofessionelle det?
Østergaard, E. B., Sparre, P., Dahlgaard, J., Petersen, A. A., Jensen, A. M., Hengel, L. V. D. & Jensen, N. B.
28/11/24
1 Mediebidrag
Presse/medie

Citationsformater

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abstract = "Mental disease constitutes 25 % of the total burden of disease in Denmark. In the last few years an increasing tendency for seeking the ocean has arised, and winter bathing is one of the outdoor ac-tivities with a large rise in popularity. The purpose of this study was to explore if and how regular winter bathing in blue spaces can affect people{\textquoteright}s mental health. The study employed a qualitative design using fieldwork with semi-structured interviews with four members from three different winter bathing clubs. The empirical data were thematically analyzed followed by theoretically analysis. The results revealed five themes: Social connectedness; Blue nature as a free space; The motivation behind; It{\textquoteright}s more than an ice-cold shock; and Mental peace due to winter bathing. The results suggest that winter bathing in blue spaces contributed to improved mental health for the informants. In conclusions, regular winter bathing enhanced the participants{\textquoteright} mental health. Rela-tively short time in the ice-cold water provided mental peace 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.",

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AU - Østergaard, Elisabeth Bomholt

AU - Petersen, Anders Aagaard

AU - Hengel, Linda van den

AU - Jensen, Anne Møller

AU - Jensen, Nikolaj Bonde

AU - Sparre, Pernille

AU - Dahlgaard, Jesper

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AB - Mental disease constitutes 25 % of the total burden of disease in Denmark. In the last few years an increasing tendency for seeking the ocean has arised, and winter bathing is one of the outdoor ac-tivities with a large rise in popularity. The purpose of this study was to explore if and how regular winter bathing in blue spaces can affect people’s mental health. The study employed a qualitative design using fieldwork with semi-structured interviews with four members from three different winter bathing clubs. The empirical data were thematically analyzed followed by theoretically analysis. The results revealed five themes: Social connectedness; Blue nature as a free space; The motivation behind; It’s more than an ice-cold shock; and Mental peace due to winter bathing. The results suggest that winter bathing in blue spaces contributed to improved mental health for the informants. In conclusions, regular winter bathing enhanced the participants’ mental health. Rela-tively short time in the ice-cold water provided mental peace 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.

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M1 - 2076

ER -

Winter bathing in Denmark. A qualitative case study on winter bathing’s impact on mental health

Abstract

Emneord

Adgang til dokumentet

Andre filer og links

Fingeraftryk

Publikation

Vinterbadning i Danmark. Et kvalitativt studie af vinterbadnings indflydelse på mentalt velbefindende

Frihed på vandet med SUP. 2½ års follow-up studie.

Freedom on Water through Stand-Up Paddling: A qualitative study on physical bodily experiences and their influence on mental health

Two-and-a-Half-Year Follow-Up Study with Freedom on Water through Stand-Up Paddling: Exploring Experiences in Blue Spaces and Their Long-Term Impact on Mental Well-Being

Projekter

Blue Health

Presse/Medier

Vinterbadning og SUP som Sundhedsfremmeaktiviteter –Evidensen er der, men vil vi sundhedsprofessionelle det?

Citationsformater