A recent study reveals that time spent outdoors and reduced screen time correlate with higher happiness levels amid COVID-19 restrictions. Prior research has long demonstrated that nature exposure, especially in green spaces, fosters positive body image and reduces depression and anxiety.
Led by experts from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in the UK, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences in Austria, and Perdana University in Malaysia, this investigation explored how outdoor time, daily screen use (TV, computers, smartphones), and loneliness affected well-being during lockdowns.
Employing experience sampling methodology (ESM), researchers tracked happiness in 286 adults three times daily at random intervals over 21 days. This real-time approach minimized recall bias.
Published in the Journal of Happiness Studies and conducted in April 2020—when Austrian participants could only leave home for essentials like exercise—the findings were clear: happiness rose when outdoors versus indoors. Higher screen time and loneliness linked to lower happiness, but outdoor time notably buffered loneliness's effects.
Co-lead author Professor Viren Swami, social psychologist at ARU, noted: "While lockdowns curb COVID-19 spread, they strain mental health. Our results highlight how safe outdoor access under restrictions supports psychological well-being by offering stress relief, social connections, and exercise opportunities."
