benefits of nature on anxiety and depression

nature.com article

A lower connection to nature is related to lower mental health benefits from nature contact | Scientific Reports

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-56968-5

A person’s connection to nature plays a moderating role in an individual’s mental health response to the frequency of spending time in nature. Specifically, visiting public greenspace frequently reduced the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression for people in general, while with the average level of frequency of public greenspace visits, the connection to nature alone is not associated with the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. More importantly, these positive benefits from nature [...] We find that on average, people who visit public greenspace more often had lower stress, anxiety and depression scores than people who visit public greenspace less often (Table 1). However, when we consider the variation of an individual’s connection to nature, the reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression varied depending on a person’s connection to nature (Table S1, Table S2, Table 1). Specifically, people with a weak connection to nature (the lowest quartile of the connection to nature [...] ## Results ### Visiting greenspace links with lower stress, anxiety, and depression, positively moderated by connection to nature

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health.state.mn.us article

Nature and Mental Health - MN Dept. of Health

https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/mentalhealth/nature.html

Increases self-confidence: Spending time in nature is linked to higher self-confidence, self-control and prosocial behaviors in children and teens. Exposure to healthy risk-taking opportunities helps build competence and resilience. Reduces anxiety: Nature spaces provide calming, therapeutic environments that support those experiencing mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. [...] Boosts mood: Fresh air and greenery help increase serotonin and dopamine- neurochemicals that make you feel happier and more motivated. Sunlight also gives your body vitamin D, which is linked to lower rates of depression and anxiety. Invites awe: Nature is a common source of awe- an experience or feeling that contributes to mental wellbeing. Awe can help us feel connected to something bigger by increasing feelings of empathy and social connection. [...] ## The Science Reduces stress and anxiety: Nature lowers stress hormones like cortisol and helps slow your heart rate and blood pressure. It also positively influences the gut microbiome, which is closely related to mental health. Research with young children demonstrated that exposure to bacteria in nature changed the microbiome and reduced their stress response.

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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov official

Associations between Nature Exposure and Health - PMC - NIH

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8125471

as a treatment for individuals diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression. The study found that the wetland site provided a sense of escape from participants’ everyday environments, facilitating relaxation and reductions in stress . A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found a reduction in depressive mood following short-term exposure to natural environments . However, the authors noted that the reviewed studies were generally of low quality due to a lack of blinding of study participants [...] studies provide evidence of positive associations between nature exposure and increased levels of physical activity and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, and longitudinal observational studies are beginning to assess long-term effects of nature exposure on depression, anxiety, cognitive function, and chronic disease. Limitations of current knowledge include inconsistent measures of exposure to nature, the impacts of the type and quality of green space, and health effects of duration and [...] of Washington Twin Registry, increased greenness was associated with decreased risk of self-reported depression, stress, or anxiety; however, only the results for depression were robust in within-twin pair analyses, suggesting the effect of green space on depression cannot be explained by genetics alone . Finally, it is important to note that technological advancements have yielded improvements in assessments of exposure to nature and mental health. For instance, one study among adults 18–75

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mentalhealth.org.uk research

How connecting with nature benefits our mental health

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/research/nature-how-connecting-natur…

## People with good nature connectedness tend to be happier Research shows that people who are more connected with nature are usually happier in life and more likely to report feeling their lives are worthwhile. Nature can generate many positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, and creativity and can facilitate concentration. Nature connectedness is linked to better mental health, particularly lower depression and anxiety. [...] Cleanliness, such as the absence of litter, in natural spaces is also a factor in how much our mental health benefits from spending time outside. Cleaner nature areas are linked to lower rates of depression. ## Nature is everywhere, but high quality nature isn’t available equally [...] Regarding mental health benefits, nature has a very wide definition. It can mean green spaces like parks, woodland or forests and blue spaces like rivers, wetlands, beaches or canals. It also includes trees on an urban street, private gardens, verges and even indoor plants or window boxes. Surprisingly, even watching nature documentaries is good for our mental health. This is great news as it means the mental health benefits of nature can be made available to nearly every one of us, no matter

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heart.org article

Spend Time in Nature to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/s…

Spending time in nature can help relieve stress and anxiety, improve your mood and boost feelings of happiness and well-being. Whatever you call it – forest bathing, ecotherapy, mindfulness in nature, green time or the wilderness cure ‒ humans evolved in the great outdoors, and your brain may benefit from a journey back to nature. ## Get out ## Feel better [...] Facebook Instagram Tik Tok X formerly known as Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Pinterest American Heart Association heart and torch logo American Heart Association donate ## Trending Search # Spend Time in Nature to Reduce Stress and Anxiety Young woman in raincoat enjoys nature in the rain Young woman in raincoat enjoys nature in the rain ## Keep outside in mind for less stress [...] Healthy Lifestyle Related Articles woman listening outdoors with eyes closed Understanding How Stress Affects the Body happy woman working out at home Working Out to Relieve Stress Donate today to help end heart disease and stroke for everyone. \All health/medical information on this website has been reviewed and approved by the American Heart Association, based on scientific research and American Heart Association guidelines. Find more information on our content editorial process.

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apa.org article

Nurtured by nature

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature

Vol. 51, No. 2, 2019opens in new window). In other work, White and his colleagues found that people who watched nature videos with a diverse mix of flora and fauna reported lower anxiety, more vitality, and better mood than those who watched videos featuring less biodiverse landscapes (Wolf, L. J., et al., PLOS ONE, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2017opens in new window). [...] From a stroll through a city park to a day spent hiking in the wilderness, exposure to nature has been linked to a host of benefits, including improved attention, lower stress, better mood, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders, and even upticks in empathy and cooperation. Most research so far has focused on green spaces such as parks and forests, and researchers are now also beginning to study the benefits of blue spaces, places with river and ocean views. But nature comes in all shapes and [...] spending time in nature triggers a physiological response that lowers stress levels. A third idea, attention restoration theory, holds that nature replenishes one’s cognitive resources, restoring the ability to concentrate and pay attention.

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mind.org.uk article

Nature and mental health | Tips for everyday living

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/nature-a…

Improve your mood Reduce feelings of stress or anger Help with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD)") Help you take time out and feel more relaxed Improve your physical health Improve your confidence and self-esteem Help you be more active Help you meet new people and reduce loneliness Connect you to your local community Help you feel more connected to nature [...] Spending time in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit your mental health. It can benefit your physical wellbeing too. There's lots of ways you can connect with nature. We're here to help you get started. While I still struggle, nature has been a healing force for my mind ## How can nature benefit my mental health? Doing things like growing food or flowers, exercising outdoors or being around animals can have lots of positive effects. It can:

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hsph.harvard.edu research

Time spent in nature can boost physical and mental well- ...

https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/time-spent-in-nature-can-boost-physical-and-men…

“[Time spent outdoors] provides a combination of stimulation of different senses and a break from typical overstimulation from urban environments,” she said. “Exposure to green space results in mental restoration and increased positive emotions and decreased anxiety and rumination. Improved mindfulness can result from exposure to green space as well.” [...] “Green spaces can be destinations for walking or bicycling, as well as space for play, and among children, green-space exposure is linked to more playtime and less screen time,” Eliassen told Pop Sugar. She also said that spending time in nature has been linked to better mental health and a decreased risk of psychiatric disorders among adults and children. [...] Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Home / News / Time spent in nature can boost physical and mental well-being Child & Maternal Health # Time spent in nature can boost physical and mental well-being By Staff Writer LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email January 2, 2024—Spending time outdoors in green spaces has been linked with myriad physical and mental health benefits, including lower mortality, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Heather Eliassen.

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