If it’s been a minute since your mother told you to sit up straight, let this study serve as your newest reminder.
Scientists from McGill University wanted to better understand how posture impacts mood and decision-making.
They recruited more than 200 people to complete tasks while sitting at a computer and with a tablet. Researchers set up the tablet portion of the study so as to subtly influence how people sat — either up straight, or slouched. In one group, the tablet was on a table, supported by an adjustable stand; in the other group, the tablet was placed flat on a desk at a lower height, encouraging hunching.
Then, the team had each group play a virtual risk-taking game. Participants were shown a balloon and asked to keep inflating it. The larger the balloon, the higher the rewards in the game — but so was the risk of popping it, which would mean the participants lost everything.
Those who were in the upright group tended to take greater risks, receiving more rewards. Researchers called this “effective risk-taking,” as people correctly gauged whether they were likely to lose their reward.
In a questionnaire following the game, the group of participants who sat upright also reported significantly stronger feelings of pride.
This isn’t the first study to question how body posture impacts our thoughts, feelings and behavior. But it was designed to avoid common issues other research studies ran into — like wondering if participants reported feeling a certain way because they knew researchers expected them to.
So the next time someone tells you to sit up straight, remember: It might not just improve your posture. It could brighten your outlook, too.