Visual Color Perception in Green Exercise: Positive Effects on Mood and Perceived Exertion

Abstract

Positive effects of green exercise on physical and psychological wellbeing have been found, yet little is known about the underlying cognitive mechanisms responsible for such effects. The purpose of this visual sensation study was to establish the extent to which the color green, as a primitive visual feature of many natural environments, contributes to the green exercise effect. Fourteen participants performed three moderate-intensity 5-min cycling tasks (50% peak power output) while watching video footage of a rural cycling course that simulated cycling through a real natural environment. The three randomly counter-balanced video conditions were unedited (V(GREEN)), achromatic (V(GRAY)) or red filter (V(RED)). Lower total mood disturbance and ratings of perceived exertion were found during the V(GREEN) compared to V(GRAY) and V(RED). Feelings of anger were higher after V(RED) compared to the other conditions. Feelings of tension, depression, fatigue, vigor, and confusion did not differ among conditions. This is the first study to show that the color green, as a primitive feature of visual sensation, has a contributory effect toward positive green exercise outcomes.

The Effect of Uniform Color on Judging Athletes’ Aggressiveness, Fairness, and Chance of Winning

“…The associations of the color green with calmness, growth and naturalness seem to represent fairness with respect to the contextual factors of combat sports , 2014. Thus, we perceive that green should oppose something unnatural, false or fake (Akers et al, 2012;Fehrman & Fehrman, 2004;Gil & Le Bigot, 2014;Lichtenfeld et al, 2012;Mazar & Zhong, 2010). Because of this association with fairness, athletes wearing green in combat sports could benefit from milder and more positive refereeing decisions.…”

“…Most notably, Greenlees et al (2013) showed that soccer players facing a goalkeeper wearing a red uniform scored on fewer penalty kicks in soccer than those facing a goalkeeper wearing green. However, outside of sport, research emphasized a posi tive valence of green standing for calmness, pleasantness and growth (Akers et al, 2012;Clarke & Costall, 2008;Fehrman & Fehrman, 2004;Gil & Le Bigot, 2014;Lichtenfeld et al, 2012;Moller, Elliot, & Maier, 2009). Green is often used to present products and objects as healthy and natural, in contrast to some thing being unnatural, fake or false (cf.…”

Physical Activity, Residential Environment, and Nature Relatedness in Young Men—A Population-Based MOPO Study

“…Based on previous studies on adults, it is possible that greenness and the positive effects of nature could also play a key role in activating young men. There is some evidence that exercising outdoors requires less exertion than exercising indoors [47,48]. Thus, young men with stronger nature relatedness might prefer to exercise outdoors.…”

Affective outcomes during and after high-intensity exercise in outdoor green and indoor gym settings

“…Obtaining participant ratings for preferred exercise environment and the aesthetic qualities of the location would help understand the degree of importance of specific components of the setting for changing affective states. The cognitive mechanisms that explain mental health benefits derived from green exercise are not yet well understood (Akers et al, 2012), hence it is possible that the outdoor natural setting in this study did not adequately reflect the underlying effective elements of green exercise.…”