Experience of well-being reason to bathe cold

What makes people voluntarily lie down in a hole in the ice or swim in the sea in the middle of winter? Cold baths can provide a sense of well-being and be a powerful way to reduce stress, according to participants in a research study.

A ritual, a kind of meditation, a moment to de-stress in nature and an increased sense of well-being afterwards. These are some of the reasons to take a cold bath outdoors. In a new study, researchers have had a closer look at the subjective experiences of cold bathers. The study is part of a larger project on hot and cold baths, in which researchers are taking a closer look at the impact on health.

”We started with research on saunas, but we realized that cold baths are a phenomenon on its own and not the same as regular sauna bathing. We wanted to understand what people experience and why they do this,” says Åsa Engström, Professor of Nursing at Luleå University of Technology.

A way to reduce stress

Previous research on cold baths highlights potential health effects, for example for recovery after exercise or reduced inflammation, but the studies are few and there is no clear medical evidence. Through interviews with cold bathers, the researchers wanted to find out what it is in the subjective experience that makes people regularly expose themselves to cold water. The participants in the study were between 44 and 70 years old and had been regularly cold bathing outdoors in Sweden for several years.

”They were clear on that they cold bath because it makes them feel good. Several described it as a way to reduce stress, a break that requires focus and being present in the moment,” says Åsa Engström.

The cold bathers describe an adrenaline rush at the same time as the bath requires focus and has a calming effect. Several also describe how they felt strengthened afterwards.
”I think there is something valuable in being able to deal with challenging situations, such as diving into cold water. You go in, come out and feel mentally stronger”, says one of the participants in the study.

Can be health-promoting for those it suits

While there are potential health benefits, there are also risks in terms of hypothermia or impact on existing diseases. One of the cold bathers described how a friend who joined in did not enjoy the bath and hyperventilated.

”It's not for everyone, but for some it can be a very valuable and health-promoting activity and a powerful tool to reduce stress,” says Åsa Engström.

Do you cold bathe yourself?

”I was quite far into the analysis of the interviews when I thought I would try it myself. I also feel that there is something rewarding about it, concentrating on breathing while spending time in nature,” says Åsa Engström.

About the research

The study "The meaning of cold bathing in middle aged and elderly people in Sweden
- a phenomenological hermeneutic study" is published in the scientific journal International journal of circumpolar health.

The research is a collaboration between Åsa Engström, Luleå University of Technology, Maria Lennkvist, Karlstad University and Hans Hägglund, Uppsala University.