Good Posture is Linked to More Perseverance and Confidence

If you’ve ever reminded your kids to “sit up straight” when they slouched at the dining table, you probably had no idea how very wise a suggestion it was. Research in recent years has revealed multiple benefits from moving through life with good posture — and it makes sense for children to establish this habit when they’re young.

Studies have found that “a slumped posture leads to more helpless behaviors,” according to Stanford University’s Emma Seppala, Ph.D., who notes how the act of slouching led participants in one study to give up in the face of a challenging task (compared to the greater perseverance of participants whose posture was upright and erect).¹ In other research,² sitting up straight resulted in participants having more confidence in what they believed. And in a third study,³ an upright body posture was found to bring about an improved mood and a feeling of greater energy.

We tend to assume that the mind — attitude and feelings — shapes body language but not the other way around. In fact, the mind-body connection seems to travel both ways: body posture seems capable of shaping our thoughts and feelings. It’s why many Buddhist teachers recommend the simple act of putting one’s face and mouth into a smiling position as a way of improving mood.

Habits of posture begin in childhood, so it behooves us to cue our kids to sit and stand up straight when we see them drooping or slouching. Be lighthearted and playful about it; don’t put them down. Explain to them why good posture is important, what we’re learning through research about the ways that walking (and sitting) tall can help them feel more confident, more energetic, and simply better about themselves.