Can imaginary mobilities be conducive to mental health?

Despite the growing interest in the relationship between physical mobility and mental health in health geography, there has been less attention to mobility in the non-physical imaginary realm and its effects on health. This study attempts to explore whether and how 'imaginary mobilities' can be conducive to mental health. It conceptualised imaginary mobilities and designed 'Imaginary Travels' as a type of imaginary mobility. To verify the research questions, 50 young unemployed people living in Seoul, South Korea, were examined (experimental group: n = 25; control group: n = 25). The results demonstrate the immediate and long-term therapeutic effects of Imaginary Travels as imaginary mobility using three psychological questionnaires in the quantitative analysis and data derived from interviews and diary entries in the qualitative analysis. The quantitative statistical analysis revealed significant effects in the experimental group in contrast to the control group. The qualitative analysis indicated that imaginary mobilities are conducive to mental health through immersing, exploring, and practising inner geographies. These findings have implications for understanding mobilities and their associated therapeutic qualities in the imaginary realm beyond the physical realm. • Mobilities in the non-physical imaginary realm beyond the physical realm can be therapeutic. • 'Imaginary mobilities' refers to movements in the imaginary realm accessed by active imagination. • Significant improvements in mental health from participation in the experiment 'Imaginary Travels'. • Imaginary mobilities are conducive to mental health by immersing, exploring, and practising inner geographies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]