Nature visits boost daily happiness, study finds
Visiting green and blue spaces linked to higher daily happiness, even for those with mental health disorders.
Why it matters
- Nature visits could be a low-cost way to boost happiness.
- Benefits extend to people with mental health disorders.
- Potential for nature-based therapies.
By the numbers
- 2,140 participants.
- 66% visited green spaces.
- 33% visited blue spaces.
- 14% took medication for anxiety or depression.
The big picture
- Nature visits are associated with higher happiness levels.
- Blue spaces may increase anxiety in people with mental health conditions.
- Findings suggest nature could supplement traditional mental health treatments.
What they're saying
- Users noted natural activities are generally healthy.
- Some questioned causality—happy people might just go out more.
Caveats
- Self-reported data from a single day.
- Difficult to establish causality—happy people might be more likely to visit nature.
What’s next
- Future research could use more nuanced measures and multiple days of data.
- Objective assessments like GPS tracking could be used.
- Ongoing projects are testing nature-based therapies.