Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the acute effects of walking in a natural environment and an urban environment on perceived breathing, muscular tension, and life satisfaction in women aged 20–50 years.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest design with two independent groups. A total of 200 women aged 20–50 years from Qom, Iran, were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to a natural-environment walking group (n=100) or an urban-environment walking group (n=100). Participants completed one 30-minute session of moderate-intensity walking. Data were collected before and after the intervention using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ), and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Data were analyzed using paired-samples t-tests and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS version 27.

Results: Paired-samples t-test results showed that walking in the natural environment significantly increased perceived breathing and life satisfaction and significantly decreased muscular tension (P<0.001). In the urban walking group, perceived breathing increased and muscular tension decreased significantly, whereas the change in life satisfaction was not statistically significant (P=0.055). ANCOVA results showed significant between-group differences in all three outcomes after controlling for pretest scores (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Walking in a natural environment may be a simple, low-cost, and effective approach to promoting psychophysical well-being in women.