How good it is to spend time in nature: A study

The solution to some of our problems may, in part, be out there. Where is it? In the midst of that Nature too often abused by man. A Finnish research, published in Occupational & Environmental Medicineargues that visiting green areas and natural areas three or four times a week reduces the possibility of having to resort to drugs for mental health problems or hypertension by a third and by almost a quarter for asthma crises.

The team of researchers, led by the Department of Health Security of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare in Kuopio, also indicates that these positive effects would be more pronounced among those with low family income.

Through a number of indicators scientists have found that visit parksor urban green spaces, community gardens or in general natural areas without buildings and constructionscan significantly reduce the use ofanxietyL’insomniathe depression ol’asthma in those who usually live in the city.

The research is based on a series of answers – related to health and well-being – provided by 16,000 randomly selected residents in the period 2015-2016 between Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, three urban areas in Finland. According to what has been identified, it emerges that the more access to green or blue spaces is missing, the more a series of health problems are encountered. Furthermore, access to these areas is unequal, with the poorer communities which indicate that they have less opportunity to spend time in close contact with nature (often for work reasons).

To develop their survey, the experts collected information on inhabitants of at least 25 years of age in the various urban areas, asking them for a sort of account of the time spent in green or blue spaces, away from residential complexes. Green areas could include forests, gardens, parks, but also moors and wetlands, while blue meant lakes, sea or rivers. At the same time, the percentages regarding the use of drugs were also included in the research. From the data analysed, a strong correlation emerged between visits to natural spaces and a lower probability of using medicines. According to Finnish scientists, visiting a natural place three or four times a week corresponds to a 33% lower probability of using drugs for mental healthor 36% less use of products for blood pressure or 26% less for use of health-related drugsasthma.

However, in some cases the percentages decrease: for example, those who are used to spending time five times a week in green spaces are only 22% less likely to use mental health drugs, a statistic that must be further investigated. In general, however, the increase in the frequency of days spent in nature leads to “fewer medications” especially “for blood pressure”.

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“Increasing scientific evidence supporting the health benefits of exposure to nature is likely to increase the supply of high-quality green spaces in urban environments and promote their active use,” the researchers write. “This could be one way to improve health and well-being in cities.” At the same time, however, the scientists specify that although “this finding is in line with other evidence that underlines the importance of effective use of green space in relation to mental health”, the data collected is not sufficient to show a strong causal relationship. -effect, even if they show that there is a potential link that is indeed worth further exploration.