Mountain Biking and Mental Health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does voluntary engagement in a 6-week mountain biking exercise programme lead to improvements in aspects of psychological well-being and mental health in a sample of adults recruited from a mental health resource centre: A Pilot Study.
IRAS ID
251489
Contact name
Tony Westbury
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Edinburgh Napier Univesity
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 0 days
Research summary
This project aims to examine whether voluntary engagement in a short (2 hours per week for 6 weeks) mountain biking programme can facilitate improvements in mental health and psychological well-being in a small group (max n=8) of clients who have been referred to a mental health resource centre in the Scottish Borders.
The effectiveness of the project will be tested against the following objectives;
1. Are there positive changes in DBT-WCCL pre to post to follow-up.
2. Are there positive changes in psychological well-being as assessed by the Edinburgh Napier Mountain Biking Well-Being Scale (ENMTBWBS)
3. Does the qualitative material gathered in focus groups indicate support for the concept that mountain biking can enhance mental health and psychological well-being in the sample.
4. Are there emergent themes in the qualitative material relating to the mechanisms by which mountain biking enhances function;
- Physical activity / changes in mono-amine regulation,
- Engagement in the natural environment – green exercise.
- Social integration.
- Choice / Autonomy.
- Competence – skill development.
- Self-regulation.REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
18/SS/0108
Date of REC Opinion
26 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion