Restorative Environments: The Impact of Nature on Physical and Mental Health
Recent research has shown that exposure to natural or restorative environments has a positive effect on both physical and mental health. This effect may be mediated by the psychological and physiological responses that people experience when exposed to nature-based settings. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature on the impact of restorative environments on physical and mental health and to explore the potential mechanisms that may be involved in these effects.
The term ‘restorative environments’ is used to describe natural or green spaces which are perceived to be beneficial for physical and mental health. Examples include parks, gardens, forests, beaches, and urban green spaces. It is hypothesized that these environments are beneficial due to the psychological and physiological responses they elicit. Psychological responses may include restoration of attention, reduced stress, and improved mood. Physiological responses may include lowered heart rate and respiration, increased parasympathetic activity, and reduced levels of cortisol (the primary stress hormone).
Several studies have investigated the impact of restorative environments on physical and mental health. A systematic review of 20 studies found that exposure to natural environments was associated with improved mood, reduced stress, and improved cognitive functioning (Maller, Townsend, Pryor, Brown, & St Leger, 2006). A second systematic review of 37 studies found that green space was associated with improved mental health, reduced stress, improved cognitive functioning, and improved physical health (Bowler et al., 2010). Other studies have demonstrated that exposure to nature can improve attention and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety (Taylor, Kuo, & Sullivan, 2001; van den Berg et al., 2003).
Despite the evidence for a beneficial effect of restorative environments on physical and mental health, the mechanisms involved are not yet fully understood. It is hypothesized that these effects are mediated by the psychological and physiological responses experienced when exposed to nature-based settings. It is possible that the psychological response of restoration is the primary mechanism, while the physiological response is a secondary one. Further research is needed to investigate the potential mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of restorative environments.
In conclusion, this review has shown that exposure to restorative environments is associated with improved physical and mental health. The mechanisms involved are not yet fully understood, but it is likely that the psychological and physiological responses experienced when exposed to nature-based settings are involved. Further research is needed to investigate the potential mechanisms involved in these beneficial effects.
References
Bowler, D. E., Buyung-Ali, L., Knight, T. M., & Pullin, A. S. (2010). A systematic review of evidence for the added benefits to health of exposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health, 10(1), 456. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-456
Maller, C., Townsend, M., Pryor, A., Brown, P., & St Leger, L. (2006). Healthy nature healthy people: ‘Contact with nature’ as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations. Health Promotion International, 21(1), 45–54. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dai032
Taylor, A. F., Kuo, F. E., & Sullivan, W. C. (2001). Coping with ADD: The surprising connection to green play settings. Environment and Behavior, 33(1), 54–77. https://doi.org/10.1177/00139160121973187
van den Berg, A. E., Hartig, T., Staats, H., & de Vries, S. (2003). Preference for nature in urbanized societies: Stress, restoration, and the pursuit of sustainability. Journal of Social Issues, 59(3), 517–537. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-4560.00076