In 2022, UK residents took an estimated 16.7 million camping and caravanning trips. It’s a classic British holiday: a back-to-basics experience that encourages simplicity and self-reliance. With dual cost-of-living and environmental crises continuing to take their toll, camping’s popularity is continuing to rise. And research recently conducted by Liverpool John Moores University and Sheffield Hallam University found that it has benefits beyond fresh air and its relative affordability – it concluded that camping actually makes us happier.
The study, which included a survey of nearly 11,000 campers and non-campers, assessed individuals’ attitudes towards all types of camping. The researchers wanted to discover how engaging in camping impacts people’s stress levels, happiness and overall wellbeing. For those who camp regularly, the positive findings are unlikely to come as a surprise.
The report discovered that 97% of campers participate in the endeavour primarily to feel happy, with 93% saying they value camping for the benefits it provides to their health and wellbeing. Almost half (48%) of campers said they feel happy every day – even when not camping – compared with around one-third (35%) of non-campers. Additionally, 44% of campers were deemed to have ‘optimal’ mental health, compared with 31% of non-campers; while 88% of camping enthusiasts were found to have ‘higher levels of psychological wellbeing’ than their non-camping
