Good Posture Affects Mental Health?

How many times did our parents remind us to “stand up straight?” Turns out, when it comes to good posture, more than good manners are at stake. Multiple studies show there’s a link between our posture and our mental state, Huffington Post UK reports.

We tend to slouch when we’re feeling bad or low energy, but that is actually the time we should focus on good posture. A Harvard University study found that sitting up straight improved some symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. It leads to better breathing, as slouching decreases the amount of oxygen that makes its way to our body tissues (and brain!) by 30%.

Another study by a Harvard social psychologist found that people who stood up straight, with their chest upright felt more confident and performed better in interviews than people who slouched. Striking a power pose increases testosterone and decreases the stress hormone cortisol.

And a San Francisco State University study looked for a link between body posture and memory, exploring how students feel about their past experiences. The researchers sought to investigate “the effect of posture sitting in a slouched or upright position on recall of either negative (hopeless, helpless, powerless, or defeated) memories or positive (empowered or optimistic) memories.”

Each member in a group of 216 students was asked to recall both a good and a bad experience twice – once while sitting up straight and once while slouching over. When students were in the slumped position, 86% were easily able to recall their negative experiences, while 87% of those sitting up straight found it easier to remember positive experiences.

The study found that “participants who reported being most depressed over the previous two years reported significantly more recall of negative memories in the slouched position.” The researchers concluded that “body posture reflects emotional states.”

So when you’re feeling low, pull your shoulders back. Chin up. Stand up straight. Sit upright. Why not explore whether a change in posture can help usher in a change in your mindset?

Read the full article here.

Learn more about how power posing can boost confidence.

 

Katsha, Habiba. “Guilty of Slouching? We’ve Got Bad News for You.” Huffington Post UK, 12 Jun 2023, https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/your-body-posture-is-making-your-memory-worse_uk_6486e940e4b027d92f8db44f/.

Photo by Paul Pastourmatzis on Unsplash