Better Posture Linked to Better Decision Making and Mood

Recent research published in the British Journal of Psychology suggests that adopting a more expansive posture may lead to better decision-making and mood. The study, conducted by psychologists from McGill University, involved almost 200 college students who completed a risk-taking test on a tablet. Half of the participants were forced to sit upright, while the others had to adopt a more contractive posture by placing the tablet on a stand.

Those in the expansive posture group were found to take larger risks and achieve bigger rewards compared to the contractive group. They also reported feeling more pride in their performance. While the study's sample was predominantly female, the researchers stress that these findings do not imply that posture can transform personality or life outcomes, but rather highlight subtle effects on mood and behavior. Moreover, adopting a better posture may help alleviate back pain.