A recently published study suggests that spending time in natural spaces with higher biodiversity is linked to greater improvements in mental well-being compared to spending time in areas with less biodiversity. The study, conducted by a team from King’s College London, collected real-time reports from nearly 2000 participants using the Urban Mind app over a 65-month period. The findings suggest that a greater number and diversity of natural features, such as trees, birds, plants, and waterways, were associated with improved mental well-being.
Participants in the study completed over 41,000 assessments over a period of 14 days, with each participant entering information about their environment and answering questions about their mental health. Results showed that seeing or hearing birds had the most significant positive impact on mental well-being, followed by seeing trees and plants. Surprisingly, seeing or hearing water did not have the same positive effect, according to the data.
The research team also investigated whether the positive association between being in natural environments and mental well-being was influenced by the amount of natural diversity present. Their analysis revealed that about 23.4% of the positive impact of nature on mental health could be attributed to the diversity of natural features present. Lead author Ryan Hammoud emphasized the importance of policies and practices that support natural diversity, both for the environment and for public mental health.
Despite the growing evidence that spending time in nature has mental health benefits, the researchers noted that climate change and habitat destruction are threatening biodiversity, particularly in densely populated urban areas like London. Clinical psychologist and neuroscientist Andrea Mechelli, a Professor of Early Intervention in Mental Health and senior author of the study, stressed the critical importance of biodiversity for both the health of natural environments and the mental well-being of people living in those environments. Mechelli called for biodiversity to be recognized as vital infrastructure within cities.
The study’s findings suggest that by protecting and promoting natural diversity, the mental health benefits of nature can be maximized. The results highlight the need to move away from heavily curated monocultural spaces towards environments that mirror the biodiversity of natural ecosystems. This research provides a compelling argument for creating greener and healthier urban areas that support both human well-being and environmental sustainability. Overall, the study underscores the interconnectedness of nature, biodiversity, and mental health, emphasizing the importance of conserving and enhancing natural diversity for the well-being of both people and the planet.
