Time outdoors and away from screen linked to higher happiness levels during COVID-19 restrictions: study

Spending time outdoors and switching off electronic devices are associated with higher levels of happiness during the era of COVID-19 restrictions, a new study has found.

The multi-national research – involving the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences in Austria, Anglia Ruskin University in the UK and Perdana University in Malaysia – has been published in the Journal of Happiness Studies.

The study’s co-lead author said the research has “practical health policy implications” for governments that decide to restrict citizens' freedoms in their fight against COVID-19.

It was carried out in Austria during the April 2020 lockdown in that country. Citizens were forced to stay home except for a few essential activities, including exercise.

Participants – 286 adults – had their happiness levels measures three times a day at random intervals over a 21-day period.

“This allowed the participants to provide data in real-time rather than retrospectively, helping to avoid recall biases,” the researchers explained.

The study found that happiness levels were higher when participants were outdoors rather than indoors.

More screen time and higher levels of loneliness were associated with lower levels of happiness.

Loneliness had less of an effect on people who spent time outdoors.

"While lockdowns can help slow down the transmission of COVID-19, research has also shown that prolonged periods of lockdown take their toll on mental health,” co-lead author Viren Swami, professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University, said.

"Our results are important in this context because they show that being able to spend time outdoors under conditions of lockdown has a beneficial impact on psychological wellbeing. Being outdoors provides opportunities to escape from the stresses of being confined at home, maintain social relationships with others, and engage in physical activity – all of which can improve mental health.”

Swami said the findings “have practical health policy implications,” adding: “Public health messages that promote getting some fresh air instead of staying indoors and staring at our screens could really help to lift people's mood this winter."