Running and its impact on quality of life and mental health through mindfulness
Nubia Hernández-Flórez, Olena Klimenko, Andrea Liliana Ortiz González, Andrea Garcia-Puello, Francis Yrama Araque Barboza, Elisama Beltrán de la Rosa
QVADRATA Estudios sobre educación artes y humanidades September 30, 2025 DOI: 10.54167/qvadrata.v7i14.2052 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Running |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that running has therapeutic effects on stress, anxiety, and depression and can raise self-esteem through the "runner's high," positive feelings, and self-concept. Proposes that running functions as active mindfulness meditation and that self-discipline built through running supports vital energy and autonomy, with benefits growing as running becomes more integrated into a person's life. |
Abstract
Running is more than just physical exercise; it is also a means of improving psychological well-being. This article describes the therapeutic effects of running on stress, anxiety, and depression. The pleasure of the “runner's high,” feeling good, and positive self-concept also increase self-esteem. In addition, it becomes a form of active meditation focused on mindfulness in which runners pay attention to their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. The self-control and self-discipline imposed on a person during running also sustain and promote vital energy and autonomy. The more running is integrated into a person's life, the greater the psychological benefits. While running is a component of exercise, this article emphasizes it as a vital practice for mental well-being. This is a call to action for readers to appreciate the benefits of running as a therapeutic and holistic form of self-care.
Citations in the library
Cites 5
- Reducing default mode network connectivity with mindfulness-based fMRI neurofeedback: a pilot study among adolescents with affective disorder history. Molecular Psychiatry June 1, 2023
- The role of mindfulness in improving quality of life among student-athletes: a pilot mediation study. Frontiers in Psychology 2025
- Exercising body but not mind: A qualitative exploration of attitudes to combining physical activity and mindfulness practice for mental health promotion Frontiers in Psychology December 9, 2022
- Neurofeedback-Augmented Mindfulness Training Elicits Distinct Responses in the Subregions of the Insular Cortex in Healthy Adolescents. Brain Sciences March 9, 2022
- The Relationship Between Mindfulness, Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Individuals With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders Frontiers in Psychology September 3, 2021