Østergaard Elisabeth Bomholt, Petersen Anders Aagaard, van den Hengel Linda, Jensen Anne Møller, Jensen Nikolaj Bonde, Sparre Pernille Wobeser, Dahlgaard Jesper
Research Programme for Mind and Body in Mental Health, Research Centre for Rehabilitation, VIA University College of Aarhus, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark.
Day Treatment Centre South/Kolt, Kunnerupvej 196, 8361 Kolt, Denmark.
Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Oct 18;12(20):2076. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12202076.
Mental health disease constitutes 25% of the total burden of disease in Denmark. In the last few years, an increasing tendency for seeking the ocean has arisen, and winter bathing is one of the outdoor activities 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.
This 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 theoretical analysis.
The results revealed five themes: Social Connectedness; Blue Nature as a Free Space; The Motivation Behind Winter Bathing; It is More Than an Ice-Cold Shock; and Finding Mental Peace in Winter Bathing. The results suggest that winter bathing in blue spaces contributed to improved mental health for the informants.
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.
在丹麦，精神疾病占疾病总负担的25%。在过去几年中，前往海边的趋势日益增加，冬泳是一项受欢迎程度大幅上升的户外活动之一。
本研究的目的是探讨在蓝色空间定期冬泳是否以及如何影响人们的心理健康。
本研究采用定性设计，通过对来自三个不同冬泳俱乐部的四名成员进行半结构化访谈的实地调查。对实证数据进行主题分析，然后进行理论分析。
结果揭示了五个主题：社会联系；作为自由空间的蓝色自然；冬泳背后的动机；这不仅仅是一次冰冷的冲击；以及在冬泳中找到内心的平静。结果表明，在蓝色空间冬泳有助于改善被调查者的心理健康。
总之，定期冬泳增强了参与者的心理健康。在冰冷的水中待相对较短的时间就能带来内心的平静，这种平静通常会延伸到日常生活的其他方面，这强调了冬泳促进心理健康的潜力。通过接触蓝色空间培养了积极情绪，包括内心的平静和安全感。冬泳也是一个社会联系和社区建设的空间，俱乐部环境促进了有意义的社会互动。
