Contemplating nature is relaxing, but how much should we interact with it to truly benefit? A Catalan study evaluated the impact of a very specific rule and its impact on mental health.
Nature is good, and the pandemic and the arrival of telecommuting will only reinforce this vital need to go green as often as possible. But is this dose of greenery suitable for urban areas? In February 2021, Cecil Konijendijk, a Dutch “urban forester”, teacher-researcher specializing in urban greening, quantified the need for green spaces in the city due to the “rule”.3-30-300“. The latter is based on three factors: for better mental health, you must have a view of at least three trees from your home, live in a neighborhood with 30% tree cover, and be no more than 300 meters from a park or forest. Recently, researchers at the Institute of Global Health in Barcelona tried to assess the interest of this rule. Their findings were published in the December issue of the journal Environmental research confirm the positive effect on mental health;
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Based on this 3-30-300 rule, the researchers first analyzed the geographic proximity to nature of 3,145 Barcelonans between the ages of 15 and 97. Then they tried to evaluate “their mental health status“.
18% of the respondents stated that they have poor mental health, and 8.3% had consulted a psychologist in the previous year. Also, in the two days preceding the assessment, 9.4% of respondents reported using a sedative or tranquilizer, and 8.1% reported using antidepressants.
By measuring the impact of volunteers’ multiple interactions with nature, the result is clear.significantly associated with better mental health, less use of antidepressants, and fewer visits to psychologists or psychiatrists“, the authors of the research conclude.
Proof that Barcelona, like other big cities, does not have green areas. only 4.7% of survey participants mention all three criteria. Judging by the conclusions of the work of the Global Health Institute, these rare and lucky ones have better psychological health than the rest of the group, confirm the Spanish researchers.
Endless resources
This isn’t the first time the benefits of nature on mental well-being have been demonstrated. “Our brains are not designed to live in urban areasneurologist Michel Le Van Kuen reminded us in the previous article. “Nature affects cognition and reduces rumination. It invigorates, stops occupations, internal conflicts. It also conveys deep positive emotions, added the specialist. Before graduation. “It is a source of well-being that never ceases.”
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Source: Le Figaro
