Mental movements: How long‐distance walking influences reflection processes among middle‐age and older adults

Abstract

By providing a distinctive room for reflection, long‐distance walks can help people similar to professional counselling. To understand reflection processes’ influence on mental health, a framework focusing on personal transformations, specifically through the concept of liminality, can be used. Through nine semi‐structured interviews with middle‐aged and older long‐distance walkers, this study answers the following question: How do middle‐aged and older adults experience long‐distance walking, and how do their experiences influence their reflective process? Four themes emerged during the analysis: (1) overcoming strain and achieving a sense of capability; (2) simplicity in obligations and having the time to pursue emotionally difficult experiences; (3) solitariness and reflection on oneself; and (4) calmness and embracing thoughts. These findings illustrate how going on long‐distance walks may be similar to entering a liminal, or transformational, space. The findings show how long‐distance walks can be helpful, or perhaps even therapeutic, in situations where personal transformation is required.

The Influence of Sociodemographic Background on Active Transportation: A Case Study of Bangsar and Shah Alam, Malaysia

“…Contrary to this, Lyu and Forsyth (2021) reported that older people are more likely to walk. Middleaged and older adults tend to be reflective during long-distance walks (Mau et al, 2021), describing walking as a strenuous, simple, solitary, and calming activity.…”

Are Long-Distance Walks Therapeutic? A Systematic Scoping Review of the Conceptualization of Long-Distance Walking and Its Relation to Mental Health

“…Theories related to the restorative potential of nature exposure and theories of stress [21] Participants experienced a sense of capability and that they had time to pursue emotionally difficult experiences. They also experienced how their reflections revolved around themselves and that they had an embracing approach to their thoughts.…”

“…In fact, rather than displacing them, modernity has popularized pilgrimage walks and provided new interpretations with underlying meanings [19]. Indeed, because of modernity, people may now walk as a way of negating the impact of life in modern societies [20,21]. Considering these changes, defining pilgrimages is complex.…”

Can Rehabilitation in Nature Improve Self-Perceived Interpersonal Problems? A Matched-Control Study

“…“Wilderness therapy” [ 11 ] and “nature-assisted therapy” [ 12 ] are among the concepts, which have been applied within research. Other studies examine “forest bathing” [ 13 ], “nature therapy” [ 14 ], or walks taking place in nature [ 15 , 16 ]. Across these types of approaches, nature is used either as the intervention, or as part of an intervention alongside other components such as movement or physical exercise (e.g., walking, running), psychotherapy, or psychotherapeutic exercises (e.g., mindfulness training).…”