New research shows that incorporating more nature into urban design significantly improves the mental health of adolescents in urban environments. It suggests that forest bathing, the simple practice of spending quiet time in the trees, breathing deeply and observing nature, can help relieve stress and improve health.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Waterloo, is the first to quantify how urban and architectural design features influence the mental health of young people. It was also the first time that real-time survey data was collected from young people in the field about their emotional responses to various urban environments, including transit hubs, residential areas, trails, parks, and waterways, the university’s press statement detailed. ing.
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Results showed that natural urban spaces were consistently associated with significantly higher scores on positive outcomes. “While this finding may not come as a surprise to most people, it is important to note for the first time how much anxiety is reduced when children are near a park rather than in the city centre. That’s concrete,” study author Leia Minaker said in a statement.
Spending just a few minutes around an urban lake reduced adolescents’ scores on a validated anxiety scale by 9%. On the other hand, if he stood in a crowded place for the same amount of time, his anxiety score was 13% higher.The research results were published in a magazine Cities and health.
Researchers are looking to better understand how urbanization affects adolescent health, especially at a time when depression and anxiety are leading causes of illness among adolescents. He emphasizes the importance of understanding.
The findings show that planners, city builders, and health care providers can use data to pursue specific natural urban design features. “Teens are often excluded from any decisions regarding the city in which they live,” Minaker added in a statement. “Childhood experiences influence many long-term health and disease outcomes, so it’s important to hear their voices and quantify their experiences.”
Previous research has also shown a strong link between nature and mental health.For example, his October 2021 study published in the journal people and natureshowed that children who spend more time outdoors have better mental and emotional health than those who don’t.
These studies highlight the importance of considering health and sustainability for all age groups when designing cities.
