Date of Conferral
8-11-2026
Date of Award
August 2026
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Jay Greiner
Abstract
Anxiety is among the most prevalent mental health concerns affecting adults, yet many individuals encounter barriers to traditional mindfulness-based interventions. Running is frequently described as promoting presence, mental clarity, emotional grounding, and relief from anxiety-related distress; however, little qualitative research has explored how adults with anxiety make meaning of their lived experiences of running. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to explore how adults with anxiety describe and make meaning of their lived experiences of running. Guided by embodied cognition and informed by mindfulness and flow theories, this study explored participants' lived experiences of running. Participants included eight adult women who self-identified as experiencing anxiety and who engaged in running regularly. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis to identify patterns of shared meaning across participants' experiences. Four superordinate themes emerged: running as emotional regulation; running as cognitive quieting and mental escape; running as mindfulness and embodied presence; and running as identity transformation and psychological growth. Findings suggest that running may serve as an accessible embodied mindfulness practice for adults with anxiety. The findings may contribute to positive social change by expanding understanding of movement-based approaches to emotional regulation and psychological well-being.
Recommended Citation
Rice, Emily, "The Lived Experience of Running Among Individuals With Anxiety" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20602.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20602
