Dalhousie study finds one‑hour hike lowers stress measurable in saliva (cortisol)
Dr. Laurette Geldenhuys (Dalhousie University) measured cortisol in saliva of about twenty participants before and after a one‑hour guided hike at Sandy Lake, Halifax. Post‑walk cortisol levels decreased, indicating a measurable calming physiological effect from time spent in nature.
Led by Dr. Laurette Geldenhuys at Dalhousie, researchers recruited roughly twenty people for a one‑hour guided hike at Sandy Lake. Participants completed short surveys and provided saliva samples immediately before and after the walk. Laboratory assays of salivary cortisol — a physiological stress marker — showed a decline after the hike, aligning with prior studies on nature’s benefits. The work highlights a straightforward, evidence‑based intervention that campuses could consider when promoting student mental health and outdoor access.
Read the original story · Radio-Canada — science — https://ici.radio-canada.ca/article/info/2299973/nature-stress-calme-science