Bailey, Anderson, and Cox wanted to learn more about the psychological implications of walking. Their work “explores the mechanisms of active and passive leisure influence through real-time tracking of mental states while incurring a standard ‘dose’ of social media and walking. Results indicate that social media induces anxiety and mental focus, while walking enhances relaxation and meditative state. Geographic information systems (GIS) reveal that natural elements along various urban walking routes are associated with higher inward attention, and that unimpeded greenways may be more mentally restorative than built environments.”
Andrew Bailey, Madison Anderson and Garner Cox. 2023. “Influence of Activity and Space on Psychological Well-Being.” Leisure Sciences, vol. 45, no. 8, pp. 724-742, https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2021.1889421