“Cycling Improves Mental Health” New Study Suggests 2024
Your Bicycle Can Now Improve Mental Health!
According to an analysis of nearly 380,000 Scottish citizens, riding a bike to work lowers the risk of anxiety, depression, and stress, improving mental health.
Although prior research indicates that riding a bicycle to work improves people’s mental health, the majority of these studies have used self-reported mental health metrics and small participant numbers.
Researchers from Edinburgh matched information gathered in the 2011 Scottish Census, about 378,253 individuals aged 16–74, with five years’ worth of NHS prescription records.
The participants in the trial did not have medication for mental illness at the beginning of the study, were employed and lived in Edinburgh or Glasgow, and resided within a mile of a cycling path.
Comparing commuters on bicycles to non-cyclists, researchers discovered that over half a decade after 2011, there was a 15% decrease in prescriptions for anxiety or depression among cyclists.
Riding a bike to work resulted in a higher decrease in mental health prescriptions for women compared to males.
Our study used the fact that otherwise similar people are more likely to cycle to work if they live close to a cycle path. Using this property, it was possible to mimic a randomized controlled trial and compare the mental health of those who cycled to work to those using other modes of transport but who were otherwise comparable.
Factors Affecting Mental Health
Reduces Stress
There are more stressful times in life than others. While some issues can be resolved with a steaming bath and a pleasant cup of tea, others require more work.
However, how effective is cycling in assisting us in avoiding the stresses of life?
The stress hormone in your body, cortisol, gets your body ready for a “fight or flight” reaction when things get tough. Long-term increased cortisol levels brought on by today’s demanding lifestyles can raise your risk of depression, heart disease, obesity, sleeplessness, and digestive problems.
Manages Anxiety
Riding a bicycle reduces stress and, thus, the likelihood of experiencing symptoms associated with anxiety. Even better, cycling offers some similar benefits to some anti-anxiety drugs. Endorphins, your body’s natural analgesic, are released into your brain as soon as you buckle up and go on a ride. They are mostly released to keep activity from hurting our bodies excessively, but they are also essential for mental relaxation and mood enhancement.
Combats Depression
What many experts have long suspected has been proven by a recent assessment conducted by the University of Toronto, which examined 26 years of science research. Exercise can help avoid depression in addition to treating it. a sedentary adult who works out three times a week may lower their risk of depression by 19%, according to a study.
If You or Any Of Your loved ones feel any of the symptoms above, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
Article Fact-Checked By; Berrie L, Feng Z, Rice D, Clemens T, Williamson L, Dibben C. Cycling better mental health? An instrumental variable analysis using distance to the nearest cycle path. Int J Epidemiol. 2024:dyad153. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyad153
