Research in Ecopsychology finds 10 minutes in nature aids mental illness. The study reviews 30 years of data, noting benefits from urban and wilderness exposure, especially through activities like camping and gardening. It stresses preserving green spaces.

A meta-analysis of existing research shows exposure to nature benefits those with diagnosed mental illness.

A study reveals that even 10 minutes in nature benefits adults with mental illness. Reviewing 30 years of research, it shows positive effects from various nature exposures, including urban parks and wilderness. Activities like camping and gardening had notable benefits. The study highlights the need to preserve green spaces for mental health.

Nature’s Role in Mental Health

According to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Ecopsychology, spending time in nature—even as little as 10 minutes—can yield short-term benefits for adults with mental illness. The new meta-analysis examined 30 years of published research on the social, mental, and physical health effects of exposure to nature, including urban nature.

Numerous studies have shown that spending time in nature reduces stress, improves thinking, and boosts one’s mood.

Joanna Bettmann Schaefer. Credit: University of Utah

Meta-Analysis of 30 Years of Research

“We know nature plays an important role in human health, but behavioral health and health care providers often neglect to think about it as an intervention,” said Joanna Bettmann, a professor at the University of Utah College of Social Work and lead author of the study. “We set out to distill some evidence-based guidance for those providers.”

From 14,168 studies that met their initial search criteria, Bettmann and her multidisciplinary research team carefully narrowed their analysis to focus on 45 studies, which included a total of 1,492 adult participants with a diagnosed mental illness. Some of the examined experiences included structured therapeutic interventions, while some involved nature experiences alone.

Varying Durations and Patterns of Nature Exposure

The amount of time study participants spent in nature varied from study to study; some participants spent as little as 10 minutes in a city park, while others spent multiple days in immersive wilderness experiences. Some of the included studies utilized interval exposure to nature; shorter time periods, several times a week or a month. Others used longer periods of continuous, immersive nature exposure. Yet, different durations and patterns of nature exposure all produced positive results.

“Ten minutes in urban nature is far less intimidating, expensive, and time-consuming for people who do not have the time, resources, interest, community support or equipment to venture into the wilderness for days or weeks,” wrote the authors.

Positive Effects of Different Outdoor Spaces

The analysis also indicated that water-based outdoor spaces—rivers, lakes, oceans—and camping, farming, and gardening activities had the greatest positive effect. Urban nature, mountains and forests also offered significant effects.

“All of these different types of outdoor spaces delivered positive results, which underscores the importance of preserving green spaces in our natural and built environments,” said Bettmann.

Bridging the Gap Between Nature and Health

Bettmann’s coauthors include Scott Couch and Dorothy Schmalz with the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism in the U’s College of Health. Funding for the research came in part from Nature and Human Health Utah, a nonprofit established by Schmalz and other U faculty to explore ways to bridge the gap between nature and health.

“The relationship between nature and mental health is all over the place. The interventions vary from study to study, and the outcomes therefore are also all over the place,” said Schmalz, a professor who chairs the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. “The work that Joanna did here in bringing it all together and culling through it and really figuring out what the overall message seems to be is an incredibly valuable contribution to understanding what this connection is.”

Applying Findings in Utah’s Natural Environment

And what better place than Utah to put this knowledge to work, figuring out how the natural environment affects human health and well-being?

“Here we are surrounded by all these extraordinary natural resources,” she said, “and having this kind of knowledge to work nature into behavioral and mental health can help make Utah a place that’s known for taking advantage of the outdoors to be healthy mentally, physically and emotionally.”

Reference: “Nature Exposure, Even as Little as 10 Minutes, is Likely to Yield Short-Term Benefits for Adults with Mental Illness: A Meta Analysis” by Joanna E. Bettmann, Elizabeth Speelman, Ellison Blumenthal, Scott Couch and Dorothy L. Schmalz, 8 July 2024, Ecopsychology.
DOI: 10.1089/eco.2023.0063