Why Do People with Depression Say Open-Water Swimming Helps?
This qualitative study interviewed 10 people with depression who swim regularly in open water. They described three main benefits: standing up to depression through challenge, belonging in a supportive community, and connecting with their bodies and the natural world. One participant captured it simply: “It seems to sort of wash my brain out.”
Depression affects about 1 in 6 adults in the UK, making it a leading cause of disability worldwide. Standard treatments like medication and therapy have modest effects, and more than half of people experience recurrent episodes. Many people with depression have turned to open-water swimming to manage their symptoms. This study explores why.
Dr. Kumar’s Take
This is a fascinating study because it captures the lived experience of people who have found something that works for them. The three themes that emerged, challenge, community, and nature connection, suggest that open-water swimming works on multiple levels. It’s not just the cold water. It’s the sense of accomplishment, the social bonds, and the deep engagement with the natural environment. This gives us clues about what makes an effective intervention for depression.
Study Design
Researchers at the University of Manchester interviewed 10 participants who identified as having depression and being regular open-water swimmers. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), they identified three main themes and seven sub-themes.
Theme 1: Standing Up to Depression
The challenge of the cold: Participants described entering cold water as a deliberate act of facing something difficult. This gave them a sense of control over their depression rather than being controlled by it.
Self-agency over depression: By repeatedly doing something hard, swimmers felt they were building their capacity to handle other challenges. The cold water became a training ground for resilience.
Theme 2: Belonging in a Community
Supporting one another: Swimmers described looking out for each other, creating a sense of safety and care that many found lacking elsewhere in their lives.
Finding self-acceptance through group acceptance: Being welcomed by other swimmers helped participants feel accepted for who they are, counteracting the isolation that often accompanies depression.
Communal joy and play: Swimming together involved laughter, playfulness, and shared positive experiences that lifted mood and created lasting social bonds.
Theme 3: Embodiment and Connection in the Natural World
Reawakening of the senses to quiet the mind: The intense physical sensations of cold water demanded full attention, quieting the ruminating thoughts that characterize depression.
Immersed in the natural world: Participants described a profound connection with nature that shifted their perspective, helping them feel part of something larger than their problems.
What Survey Data Shows
A recent survey of 722 outdoor swimmers found that over half had a diagnosed mental health condition, with depression being the most common. Importantly, individuals with depression reported continued reduction in symptoms through regular swimming.
Implications for Social Prescribing
The findings suggest that effective social prescribing interventions for depression might include:
- Elements of challenge that build a sense of accomplishment
- Community aspects that reduce isolation
- Connection with nature and physical engagement with the environment
Open-water swimming naturally incorporates all three elements.
Practical Takeaways
- Open-water swimming may help depression through multiple mechanisms: challenge, community, and nature connection
- The benefits appear to require regular practice
- Finding a swimming community may be as important as the swimming itself
- The intense physical sensations may provide relief from rumination and negative thoughts
Related Studies and Research
- Related Podcast Episode
- Meta-analysis: CWI vs CWI + other for post-exercise fatigue recovery
- Cold water immersion: sudden death and prolonged survival (Lancet full text)
- The human dive reflex during consecutive apnoeas with facial immersion
- Exploring the use of sea swimming in youth mental health services
FAQs
How often do people need to swim to see benefits?
The study focused on regular swimmers but didn’t specify an optimal frequency. The key seems to be consistent practice over time rather than occasional dips.
Is it the cold water or the swimming that helps?
The study suggests it’s a combination of factors: the physical challenge of cold water, the social community of swimmers, and the connection with nature. All three appear to contribute.
Can open-water swimming replace medication or therapy?
This study doesn’t address that question. Participants were using swimming to manage their depression, but the study doesn’t recommend stopping other treatments. Talk to your doctor about any changes to your treatment plan.
Bottom Line
This qualitative study reveals why people with depression find open-water swimming helpful. Through detailed interviews with 10 regular swimmers, researchers identified three key mechanisms: the sense of agency that comes from facing the challenge of cold water, the belonging that comes from being part of a supportive swimming community, and the grounding that comes from physical engagement with the natural world. These insights suggest that open-water swimming works on multiple psychological levels. For people with depression seeking additional ways to manage their symptoms, joining a swimming community may offer benefits beyond the cold water itself.
