We all know the feeling of the glide. And it helps most everyone’s mental health. Photo: Jeremy Bishop//Unsplash
Many surfers will describe the sport as therapeutic, but in some cases that may literally be true. Jonathan Ossie, a marketing lecturer at San Diego State University’s Fowler College of Business, conducted a study on the effects of surf therapy on military veterans. The findings, published last month in Frontiers in Psychology, showed that the sport could have a positive impact on those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
“To many people, the power of the ocean has restorative and therapeutic qualities,” said Ossie. “I wanted to learn if surf therapy could potentially aid military veterans experiencing PTSD since published research on the subject is extremely limited.”
The trial had 41 participants (27 men and 14 women) all of whom were military veterans or active-duty personnel who had been diagnosed with PTSD. They participated in a seven-day study, in which California-based nonprofit organization Operation Surf provided surf instruction and equipment. In addition to surfing, activities included instruction on yoga, stretching and peer support sessions that continued after the conclusion of the study.
During the trial, participants wore wristband health trackers that recorded sleep data and heart rate variability. They also completed surveys to determine their level of anxiety and depression before, during, and 30 days after the activities.
The veterans showed a marked improvement in their physical and mental conditions while surfing. Depression levels dropped by 44 percent. Participants who reported the highest classification of anxiety before the program saw those levels drop. Both deep sleep and REM sleep improved. Finally, heart rate variability decreased by 12 percent during the program.
Not only that, but some of the benefits persisted after the conclusion of the study. While the results were strongest during the program, participants who continued to practice the activities on their own may have accounted for further post-program improvements.
“These outcomes suggest that programs that engage veterans in non-clinical, peer-supported environments may be more approachable and less stigmatizing than traditional care,” said Ossie. “Future research may want to explore how these types of programs can complement traditional care, reduce access barriers and foster long-term engagement in mental health recovery.”
