A scoping review of bicycling interventions’ impacts on psychological, social, affective, and cognitive well-being

Schuck, Lauren; Reisman, Brandie; Walker, Esther; Wiafe, Seth; Wilson, Sean M.; Brown, Cian L. · 2026 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2026.1807791

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Summary

This scoping review addresses the fragmented nature of research regarding bicycling interventions and their impact on non-physical health outcomes. While bicycling is well-documented for its physical benefits, such as improved cardiovascular fitness and metabolic health, evidence regarding its effects on psychological, social, affective, and cognitive well-being remains under-synthesized. The authors aimed to map the existing literature to identify key themes, understand how intervention design influences outcomes, and highlight gaps in current research. The study was motivated by the need to move beyond associative population-level data to understand the causal impacts of structured bicycling programs on holistic well-being across diverse populations and settings. The researchers conducted a comprehensive search across five databases (EBSCOhost, ProQuest, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, and PubMed) using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The search covered a 20-year period from 2004 to 2024. From an initial pool of 1,653 identified studies, 87 intervention studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies were required to feature bicycling (including road, mountain, gravel, and stationary cycling) as the primary intervention and assess at least one of the four defined well-being domains: psychological, social, affective, or cognitive. The review excluded gray literature, reviews, studies where bicycling was incidental or combined with other activities, and those focusing solely on athletic performance or infrastructure. Data extraction focused on intervention characteristics, settings (indoor vs. outdoor), duration (acute vs. multi-session), and specific outcomes. The synthesis of the 87 studies revealed that bicycling interventions generally have positive impacts on well-being. A majority of the included studies utilized acute, indoor stationary cycling interventions to assess cognitive outcomes. However, the review found that notable improvements across all well-being domains—specifically improved mood, reduced depressive symptoms, increased social connection, and enhanced cognitive functioning—were particularly pronounced in multi-session interventions conducted in outdoor settings. Affective and cognitive outcomes varied significantly based on the intervention context, intensity, and population. For instance, outdoor programs often facilitated social cohesion and environmental connection, while indoor acute studies provided mechanistic insights into cognitive processing during exercise. The findings reinforce bicycling as a multidimensional modality for promoting holistic well-being. The authors conclude that while indoor studies offer controlled insights, there is a critical need for translational, inclusive, community-based research that leverages the unique features of outdoor bicycling, such as social opportunity and exposure to nature. The review underscores the importance of exploring how these specific contextual factors contribute to psychological and cognitive health across the lifespan, suggesting that future interventions should prioritize ecological validity and real-world implementation to maximize well-being benefits.

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• cyclist safety