Swimming in nature: A scoping review of the mental health and wellbeing benefits of open water swimming

Open water swimming (also known as outdoor or wild swimming) is a popular blue activity which has become of recent interest in the mental health sphere. Moreover, it is an accessible and low-cost activity, requiring little to no specialist equipment other than access to an appropriate blue space. Subsequently, it could be an effective and accessible intervention that supports mental health and wellbeing worldwide. This scoping review aims to summarise the open water swimming literature. A comprehensive search, extraction and charting of relevant literature was undertaken, identifying 14 studies exploring the mental health and wellbeing benefits of open water swimming. The findings were synthesised and summarised for both quantitative and qualitative literature, addressing all scoping review aims, whilst also assessing the quality of the literature. Open water swimming may lead to improvements in mood and wellbeing, reductions in mental distress symptomatology, and was experienced as a positive, enriching process for many. Blue spaces involve embodiment, mindful presence, community and much more, offering for some a therapeutic accretion which sustains mental health and wellbeing across a lifetime. More robust evidence is needed before open water swimming may become a viable mental health resource. •Open water swimming was shown to improve wellbeing and positive mood states.•OWS reduced negative mood states such as tension, anger, fatigue, and symptoms of depression and anxiety.•Qualitative research shows rich, positive experiences of open water swimmers.•OWS is accessible, cheap, and requires little specialist equipment.•Issues remain with study quality; more evidence is needed before real implementation.