Why You Shouldn’t Run To Escape Negative Feelings, According To Research

Escapism, defined by Merriam-Webster as a “habitual diversion of the mind to purely imaginative activity or entertainment as an escape from reality or routine,” can take many forms. Some people may binge television shows or play video games to escape the humdrum of everyday life.

A study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology1 found that using running as a way to suppress troublesome thoughts or emotions could have negative impacts on well-being2.

While other escapism outlets, like video games, have been studied before, Norway-based researchers found that there wasn’t existing research on the experiences of runners who use the activity as a way to distract themselves from other aspects of their lives.

For this study, researchers looked at two motivations for escapism in running: self-expansion and self-suppression.

Runners motivated by self-expansion, who run because they want to promote positive emotions, would likely agree with the first two examples, while runners motivated by self-suppression, who run because they want to “prevent, or suppress, troublesome thoughts or emotions,” would likely agree with the last two examples.

The study found that those motivated by self-expansion were more likely to feel positive emotions during their runs and receive more long-term benefits after they finished running. They were also more likely to settle into a “flow state” during their runs, which the study defines as transcending “the demands of the activity, which leads to intense cognitive focus, alertness, and a feeling of mastery and joy.”

Meanwhile, runners motivated by self-suppression, who ran to distract themselves from uncomfortable thoughts, future challenges, or past upsetting experiences, were found to have fewer positive effects from the activity.

“Individuals become triggered to suppress and/or alleviate [negative emotions], and a common response is to dim these troublesome thoughts by pursuing experiences that may outshine them, at least momentarily,” researchers said in the study.

Exercise—no matter your motivation for it—can have undeniable benefits for your mood. It increases oxygen in your brain3, which can help manage anxiety and depression.

Endorphins released during aerobic exercise help you feel positive and upbeat4, while other chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine, linger after workouts to help keep your mood up well after you’ve finished moving. And this new research suggests that running while in a more positive mindset can be even more beneficial.

It’s tempting to want to suppress negative feelings and distract yourself with something more fun—especially if that fun activity is also a healthy one. But new research reveals a downside of using running as a means of escaping negative emotions.