Exploring whether daily cold-water showers affect anxiety, depression, sleep, fatigue and wellbeing
About the study
This study is exploring whether daily cold-water showers affect symptoms of anxiety and depression, sleep, fatigue and wellbeing. Participants will be randomly assigned to either continue their usual shower routine or finish each daily shower with 90 seconds of cold water for 30 days. All activities are completed at home.
Participants will complete a short online survey each day, taking about 2–3 minutes, and longer online surveys at the beginning and at weeks 2, 4 and 6, taking about 15–20 minutes. The study also examines whether cold-water showering is practical, acceptable and safe.
Eligibility requirements
You may be eligible to participate if you:
- Are 18–65 years old
- Are of any gender
- Live in Australia
- Have mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety and/or depression; a formal diagnosis is not required
- Have regular access to a shower and can shower daily for 30 days
- Are not currently having cold showers or cold-water immersion more than once per week
- Can understand written English and complete online surveys
- Have had no changes to mental health medication or therapy within the past 12 weeks and do not plan changes during the study
You cannot participate if you are pregnant; have a significant heart, lung, neurological or cold-related condition, such as Raynaud’s disease; have severe anxiety or depression symptoms; or have an acute mental health safety concern.
Recruitment timeline
Start of recruitment: June 2026
Anticipated end of recruitment: June 2027
Benefits
No payment, gift voucher or reimbursement is offered for participating. You may not receive a direct personal benefit, although you may find it useful to monitor your mood, sleep and daily routine. Your participation will help researchers determine whether daily cold-water showering is safe, practical and acceptable, and whether it may affect symptoms of anxiety and depression, sleep, fatigue and wellbeing. The findings will help guide future larger studies.
Contact details
Principal Investigator: Dr Ben Singh
Email: ben.singh@adelaide.edu.au
Phone: +61 8 8302 2446
Cold Shower Pilot Trial Research Team
Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Adelaide University
Email: arena@adelaide.edu.au