For stress relief, look at the trees
It is no secret that the urban lifestyle affects mental health, and that nature could help ease mental health burdens. But how exactly can we make this happen? According to a new study conducted as part of the EU-funded Niche4NbS project, all we have to do is look at the trees, plants and flowers along the routes we take during routine walks in urban settings. Published in the journal ‘People and Nature’, the study reveals that simply paying visual attention to green elements rather than grey human-made structures when walking in the city can benefit people’s mental health significantly. Benefits include substantially reduced anxiety and enhanced restorative processes.
Green versus grey
Using eye-tracking technology, researchers from Niche4NbS project coordinator Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Bangor University, United Kingdom, explored what happens when we intentionally look at natural (green) and human-made (grey) elements in urban areas and how these are associated with well-being measures. To find answers to their questions, they asked 117 participants to take a 45-minute walk outdoors, simulating a walk to and from work, while wearing eye-tracking glasses. The participants were prompted to direct their gaze either to green, grey or a mixture of both elements. After the walk, these groups exhibited differences in positive and negative emotions, anxiety and perceived restorativeness, but not in cognition. People who focused more on green features reported lower anxiety and higher perceived restorativeness. In contrast, people who spent more time looking at grey elements reported increased anxiety and reduced perceived restorativeness. Study lead author Dr Whitney Fleming of Bangor University explains in a news release posted on ‘EurekAlert!’: “We found that the individuals who were guided to direct their gaze more frequently at green elements reported a significant reduction in anxiety, with trees showing the most substantial positive effect. The study highlights a strong link between observing green elements, especially trees, and an increase in perceived restorativeness, suggesting that even brief interactions with nature can provide mental health benefits.” The insights provided by the Niche4NbS (Beyond assuming co-benefits in Nature-based Solutions: Applying the niche concept for optimizing social and ecological outcomes) study could be highly useful in urban planning. They could lead to creation of spaces whose role is not only to provide access to natural elements but also to encourage engagement with nature. This could have a positive impact on people’s well-being and their attitudes towards conservation. For more information, please see: Niche4NbS project
Keywords
Niche4NbS, nature, tree, urban, anxiety, mental health, green, grey, well-being
