Psychological Benefits of Guided Hiking in Urban Population: Environmental and Personal Associated Factors / Beneficios psicológicos del senderismo guiado entre la población urbana: factores ambientales y personales asociados Eva González-Estévez, Laura Comendador, Corel Mateo-Canedo, Antoni Sanz

There is growing evidence indicating that “green exercise” offers benefits for health and well-being, both in the short and long term. This study explores the psychological benefits of hiking in nature among people living in urban areas. A total of 181 hikers participating in 10 group guided hiking routes in mountain areas were enrolled in this study. With an ex post facto design, a statistically significant increase was observed after hiking in dominance and self-efficacy, both with large effect sizes (Cohen’s d  = .8) and in affective valence and social bonding, with very large effect sizes ( d  = 1.8 and d  = 2.3, respectively). Likewise, a large reduction in stress was observed ( d  = −.8). No significant trends were observed for fatigue, attention, or arousal. Gender, education level, economic income, loneliness, and region of residence appeared to be related to interindividual variability in outcomes. It is concluded that green exercise can improve psychological health, and some personal and environmental associated factors to these benefits should be considered.