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September 15, 2026Journal of PHYSIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGYOpen Access

A 60-minute park walk improves psychological well-being and salivary immune markers in postmenopausal women.

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Why the study?

Walking benefits emotional well-being and physical health, but its effects on the psychoneuroimmune system remain unclear in postmenopausal women.

Does a single 60-min park walk improve psychological and physiological responses in postmenopausal women with different baseline happiness levels?

Population

Twenty-four postmenopausal women

Comparison

Higher-happiness (n = 12) vs lower-happiness (n = 12) groups

Design

Stratified interventional study

Key result

A single 60-minute park walk improved psychological well-being and altered salivary immune markers in postmenopausal women, with greater benefits observed in those with lower baseline happiness.

Authors

MCMing-Ru ChiangJSJui-Ling ShenLSLi-Chun Shih

Discussion

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Member takes

Overview

May support transient mood benefits from park walking in postmenopausal women; hypothesis-generating for happiness-stratified effects on immune markers.

Key Points

  • To examine psychological, autonomic, and salivary immune biomarker responses to a single park walk in postmenopausal women categorized by baseline happiness levels.
  • Stratified pre-post trial of 24 postmenopausal women grouped into higher-happiness (n = 12) and lower-happiness (n = 12) cohorts using the Happiness and Life Satisfaction Scale.
  • Participants engaged in a single 60-minute walking session in a park setting.
  • Pre- and post-walk evaluations measured heart rate variability, blood pressure, Profile of Mood States scores, and salivary biomarkers including cortisol, α-amylase, lactoferrin, immunoglobulin A, total protein, and mitochondrial DNA.
  • Salivary α-amylase/total protein significantly increased in both cohorts, while lactoferrin/total protein increased and salivary mitochondrial DNA significantly decreased exclusively in the lower-happiness group.
  • Post-walk heart rate increased and RR intervals decreased in both groups, with the lower-happiness group consistently displaying higher mean heart rate and lower RMSSD across all timepoints.
  • Mood improved across all participants; the lower-happiness group experienced greater reductions in confusion, fatigue, tension, and anger, whereas the higher-happiness group exhibited gains in vigor and self-esteem alongside reduced anger and depression.

Structured PICO

Does a single 60-min park walk improve psychological and physiological responses in postmenopausal women with different baseline happiness levels?

P
Population
24 postmenopausal women stratified by baseline happiness levels who completed a single 60-minute park walking session.
I
Intervention
A single 60-min walking session in a park.
C
Comparator
Pre-walking baseline and comparison between higher-happiness and lower-happiness groups.
O
Outcome
Psychological and physiological responses including heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure, salivary biomarkers (cortisol, α-amylase, lactoferrin, immunoglobulin A, total protein, and mitochondrial DNA), and psychological status (Profile of Mood States).surrogate

A single 60-minute park walk improves psychological well-being and alters salivary immune markers in postmenopausal women, with greater benefits observed in those with lower baseline happiness.

Cite This Study

Chiang et al. (2026) studied Postmenopausal women (n=24). Park-based walking vs. Higher-happiness group was evaluated on Psychological and physiological responses (HRV, blood pressure, salivary biomarkers, POMS). A single 60-minute park walk improved psychological well-being and altered salivary immune markers in postmenopausal women, with greater benefits observed in those with lower baseline happiness.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa90187eed42882c1fc1980https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-026-00447-5
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