Environmental contexts of exercise: psychophysiological mechanisms and health outcomes

The study of exercise environments and their impact on psychophysiological health is an emerging interdisciplinary field integrating environmental psychology, physiology, and exercise science. Traditional research has largely focused on standardized exercise conditions or outdoor activities among healthy populations, highlighting the general benefits of physical activity for both mental and physical well-being. However, growing evidence suggests that the context in which exercise occurs—whether natural, urban, virtual, or within restrictive spaces such as prisons or psychiatric wards—can substantially modulate those outcomes. Environmental factors such as sensory stimulation, safety perceptions, social context, and exposure to nature or confinement may enhance or diminish the benefits of exercise. Recent studies have begun to document the restorative effects of green exercise, the motivational potential of virtual and augmented environments, and the unique challenges and opportunities presented in enclosed or high-stress settings. Despite these advances, there remain key gaps in understanding how environmental context affects diverse populations, and how these interactions influence physiological and psychological health in both the short and long term.This Research Topic aims to deepen understanding of how physical exercise performed across diverse environmental settings influences both mental and physiological health. It seeks to clarify whether and how environmental features amplify or attenuate the beneficial effects of exercise, and to identify potential mediating and moderating factors such as sensory exposure, perceived autonomy, social interaction, or environmental novelty. Studies that investigate acute responses and long-term adaptations are encouraged, as are those that employ mechanistic, translational, or applied designs. Research focusing on special populations, including individuals with mental health conditions or those living in restrictive environments, is particularly welcome.To gather further insights into the psychophysiological mechanisms linking physical exercise and environmental context, we welcome studies across all age groups, health statuses, and fitness levels. The scope is limited to investigations that explicitly consider the environmental characteristics of exercise settings and their associations with psychological or physiological outcomes. We invite articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:Exercise in natural, urban, or virtual environmentsExercise in special or restrictive settings (e.g., prisons, psychiatric wards, military barracks)Comparative studies of environmental influences on exercise outcomesMental health effects, including mood, anxiety, cognitive function, and well-beingPhysiological responses, such as cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, immune, or sleep-related outcomesMechanistic pathways linking environment to exercise-induced health effectsPopulation-specific studies, including vulnerable, institutionalized, or clinical groupsArticle types welcomed: original research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, scoping reviews, brief reports, and perspective papers. Topic editors: Lunxin Chen, Hansen Li, Ruixiang Yan, Zhiyuan Tan Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80553/environmental-contexts-of-exercise-psychophysiological-mechanisms-and-health-outcomes