The study shows that anxiety decreases when young people come into contact with nature
A study reveals that the mental health of young people living in urban environments can significantly improve when nature is incorporated into city design.
According to researchers at the University of Waterloo, Canada, so-called “forest bathing” can help young people reduce stress and improve health and well-being. This relaxation method involves being calm and quiet among the trees, observing the nature around you while breathing deeply.
Emotional response to the environment
The study was the first to collect real-time data on adolescents’ emotional responses in various urban environments, such as in traffic, residential streets, trails, parks and rivers. Natural urban spaces have consistently been linked to positive outcomes.
“While the findings may not surprise most people, what is significant is that, for the first time, we are able to specifically tell how much anxiety is reduced when children and adolescents are in a park rather than in the city center,” said Leia Minaker, an associate professor in the School of Planning and director of the Future Cities Initiative at the University of Waterloo, focused on creating healthier urban spaces.
Nature decreases anxiety
After standing and looking at an urban lake for just two to three minutes, young people’s scores on a validated anxiety scale dropped by 9%. On the other hand, their anxiety scores were 13% higher when they were in a busy city center area for the same period of time. These differences were maintained after adjusting for many other factors, such as age, sex, ethnicity, mental health diagnosis, and social status.
With the rapid acceleration of urbanization, it is critical to better understand the impact of urban environments on young people. Especially if you consider that depression and anxiety are among the main causes of illness among adolescents.
The study, published in the journal City and healthfound that nature patterns or patterns on buildings, natural views in urban environments such as lakes and parks, and landscape elements such as gardens and trees increase positive emotional experiences for young people.
The researchers note that these urban characteristics may be interpreted differently by adults, who may be more likely to walk or run in green spaces, while young people are more likely to skateboard or hang out in urban spaces.
The findings provide strong evidence that planners, urban planners and health professionals can use to design healthier and more sustainable cities, taking into account all age groups.
“Teens are often excluded from any kind of decision-making about the cities they live in,” commented Minaker. “It is important to get their opinions and quantify their experiences because childhood experiences influence many long-term health and disease outcomes.”
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
