Standing up straight could help symptoms of depression—study
Adam Boult, London Telegraph, 31 January 2017
People with depression could see their condition improve if they adopt an upright posture.
That was the conclusion of a study by researchers at the University of Auckland, due for publication in the March issue of the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry.
While previous studies have found that that sitting or standing up straight improves self-esteem and mood in healthy people, the new study sought to investigate whether people with mild-to-moderate depression would also experience a benefit.
Study co-author Elizabeth Broadent said: “Compared to sitting in a slumped position, sitting upright can make you feel more proud after a success, increase your persistence at an unsolvable task, and make you feel more confident in your thoughts.
“Research also suggests that sitting upright can make you feel more alert and enthusiastic, feel less fearful, and have higher self-esteem after a stressful task.”