Effects of spending time outdoors in daylight on the psychosocial well-being of older people and their family carers : a systematic review

A range of studies has found that spending time outdoors in daylight provides substantial benefits for the psychosocial well-being of older people. Good psychosocial well-being is essential in maintaining overall health as people age and often contributes to adequate physical functioning. Psychosocial well-being encompasses behavioral disturbances, cognition, mood, quality of life (QoL), self-rated health, social interaction and satisfaction of service provision if a person is living in a residential aged care facility (RACF). Spending time outdoors in daylight is often difficult for older people as a result of increasing frailty, environmental barriers and poor health. Psychological limitations include a fear of falling or skin cancer. Therefore, the ability of older people to be outdoors is lessened and research commonly reports that older people do not spend enough time outdoors in the daylight.