SWIMMING AS A LIFESTYLE AND PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTION: EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH – A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Magdalena Roman; Wiktoria  Goździejewska; Łukasz  Jaworek; Gabriela Zimka; Martyna Lipiarz; Michał Niespodziewański; Patrycja  Szczygielska; Sylwia Hejna; Weronika  Teterycz; Weronika Smutkiewicz

doi:10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5532

Authors

Magdalena Roman Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1261-180X
Wiktoria Goździejewska Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5302-1883
Łukasz Jaworek Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8117-5644
Gabriela Zimka Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3954-7307
Martyna Lipiarz Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3124-9250
Michał Niespodziewański Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0937-1549
Patrycja Szczygielska Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2063-3165
Sylwia Hejna Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6313-3067
Weronika Teterycz Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7486-458X
Weronika Smutkiewicz Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4965-1903

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5532

Keywords:

Swimming, Physical Activity, Mental Health, Cardiovascular Health, Public Health, Health Promotion

Abstract

Swimming is increasingly recognized as a multifaceted lifestyle and public health intervention that contributes to both physical and mental well-being. As a low-impact, accessible, and adaptable form of physical activity, swimming provides benefits across multiple physiological systems while also supporting population-level health promotion. This narrative review aims to evaluate the effects of swimming on physical and psychological health based on scientific evidence published between 2015 and 2025. A structured literature search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar, and relevant peer-reviewed studies were selected according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A qualitative narrative synthesis was conducted. The findings indicate that swimming improves cardiovascular fitness, metabolic health, muscular strength, and respiratory function. Furthermore, it is associated with reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as enhanced overall well-being and quality of life. Importantly, swimming demonstrates high adherence potential and accessibility, making it particularly suitable for large-scale public health interventions. In conclusion, swimming represents an effective and scalable lifestyle intervention with broad applicability in preventive health strategies. Future research should focus on standardizing intervention protocols and evaluating long-term population-level outcomes.

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