Exploring potential mechanisms underpinning the therapeutic effects of surfing

ABSTRACT

There is growing interest in surfing as a recreational activity that may facilitate skill development and improved mental health. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the causal processes through which surfing may improve psychological well-being. With the aim to guide future research, we review potential mechanisms that may underpin the psychotherapeutic effects of surfing. A range of plausible factors are identified, including exercise, water immersion, exposure to sunlight, transcendent experiences, reductions in rumination and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs. Further research is needed to clarify the effectiveness of surfing-based therapies and to establish the relative contributions of the causal mechanisms at play.

KEYWORDS:

• surfing
• surf therapy
• recreation
• exercise
• mental health
• blue space

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sam G. Moreton

Sam G. Moreton is a Fellow and Associate Lecturer at the University of Wollongong. His research spans social, environmental and clinical psychology, with specific focuses on human attitudes towards nature and mechanisms of change in psychedelic therapies. Sam has a PhD from the University of Sydney and enjoys dragging co-authors onto shallow reefs. 

Mary K. Brennan

Mary K. Brennan is currently completing a Master of Clinical Psychology at Edith Cowan University. Her research interests include environmental psychology, examining mechanisms through which environment influences wellbeing and how outdoor therapies, e.g. surf therapy, can be applied to enhance the restorative effect of nature. 

Victoria I. Nicholls

Victoria I. Nicholls completed her PhD in Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience at Bournemouth University. For her PhD she investigated the role visual attention plays in road crossing decisions, and how this is impacted by development and ageing. Her research interests include visual attention in naturalistic scenes, the neuroscience involved in visual attention in naturalistic scenes, and the neural mechanisms of swimming in animals such as Xenopus laevis.

Isabelle D. Wolf

Isabelle D. Wolf is an urban green space and protected areas specialist. Isabelle researches various aspects of socio-ecological systems with a particular focus on tourism and recreation, health and wellbeing. As a human mobility expert, she leads research and enhances geospatial methods for people monitoring, sustainable visitor experience development and natural resource management. Trained as an ecologist, her specialty is the human dimensions of ecosystems, with work on people and animal behaviour and flora and fauna communities among other in tourism and recreations systems. Isabelle has a PhD degree from the University of New South Wales and has published in both social and environmental science journals.

David L. Muir

David L. Muir is a clinical psychologist working in community and forensic mental health settings. He draws on a combination of therapeutic approaches to meet the diverse needs of the people he works with. David became interested in the therapeutic potential of surfing after hearing the stories of people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder who had participated in the 'Waves of Wellness' surf therapy program. He recently rediscovered his joy for bodyboarding.