Comparison of Leisure Time Spent in a Garden with Leisure Time Spent Indoors: On Measures of Restoration in Residents in Geriatric Care.
Ottosson and Grahn compared the effects of one hour of resting outdoors versus indoors in people residing in a home for the very elderly. The home is perceived very favorably by the residents. Residents who rested outdoors showed an increase in their ability to concentrate. No difference was observed in their blood pressure.
Ottosson J, Grahn P. A. Landscape Res. 2005/01/01 2005;30(1):23-55. doi:10.1080/0142639042000324758.
Ottosson and Grahn compared the effects of one hour of resting outdoors versus indoors in people residing in a home for the very elderly. The home is perceived very favorably by the residents. Residents who rested outdoors showed an increase in their ability to concentrate. No difference was observed in their blood pressure.
Ottosson J, Grahn P. A. Landscape Res. 2005/01/01 2005;30(1):23-55. doi:10.1080/0142639042000324758.
Childhood Development and Access to Nature: A New Direction for Environmental Inequality Research.
Although environmental inequality researchers have increased our understanding of race- and class-based environmental inequality in many important ways, few environmental inequality studies ask whether children are disproportionately burdened by environmental pollution or whether poor and minority youth are less likely than their White and wealthier counterparts to spend time in green spaces and the natural world. Strife and Downey explore these questions and discuss the value of engaging with nature to children of all races, ethnicities, and classes.
Strife, S. and Downey, L. Organ Environ. Mar 2009; 22(1):99-122. doi:10.1177/1086026609333340. PMC3162362
Although environmental inequality researchers have increased our understanding of race- and class-based environmental inequality in many important ways, few environmental inequality studies ask whether children are disproportionately burdened by environmental pollution or whether poor and minority youth are less likely than their White and wealthier counterparts to spend time in green spaces and the natural world. Strife and Downey explore these questions and discuss the value of engaging with nature to children of all races, ethnicities, and classes.
Strife, S. and Downey, L. Organ Environ. Mar 2009; 22(1):99-122. doi:10.1177/1086026609333340. PMC3162362
Exploring pathways linking greenspace to health: Theoretical and methodological guidance
What do the experts think and talk about when they come together to discuss the health benefits of nature? This paper is the product of a workshop that convened experts from multiple fields to discuss how interacting with nature may improve health outcomes. The experts also discussed pros and cons of various methods and provides guidance for developing future research and policy recommendations.
Markevych, I., Schoierer, J., Hartig, T., Chudnovsky, A., Hystad, P., Dzhambov, A.M., de Vries, S., Triguero-Mas, M., Brauer, M., Nieuwenhuijsen, M.J., et al., Environmental Research, 2017. 158: p. 301-317. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.06.028.
What do the experts think and talk about when they come together to discuss the health benefits of nature? This paper is the product of a workshop that convened experts from multiple fields to discuss how interacting with nature may improve health outcomes. The experts also discussed pros and cons of various methods and provides guidance for developing future research and policy recommendations.
Markevych, I., Schoierer, J., Hartig, T., Chudnovsky, A., Hystad, P., Dzhambov, A.M., de Vries, S., Triguero-Mas, M., Brauer, M., Nieuwenhuijsen, M.J., et al., Environmental Research, 2017. 158: p. 301-317. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.06.028.
Nature-Based Social Prescribing in Urban Settings to Improve Social Connectedness and Mental Well-being: a Review.
Social prescriptions are a means of connecting patients to a range of non-clinical services in the community to improve their health and well-being. Nature prescriptions are a form of social prescribing. This paper reviews the evidence that nature-based interventions can alleviate social isolation and increase social connectedness.
Leavell MA, Leiferman JA, Gascon M, Braddick F, Gonzalez JC, Litt JS. Curr Environ Health Rep. Nov 11 2019;doi:10.1007/s40572-019-00251-7.
Social prescriptions are a means of connecting patients to a range of non-clinical services in the community to improve their health and well-being. Nature prescriptions are a form of social prescribing. This paper reviews the evidence that nature-based interventions can alleviate social isolation and increase social connectedness.
Leavell MA, Leiferman JA, Gascon M, Braddick F, Gonzalez JC, Litt JS. Curr Environ Health Rep. Nov 11 2019;doi:10.1007/s40572-019-00251-7.
Toward a unified model of stress recovery and cognitive restoration in nature
Many people have approached the attention restoration and stress reduction theories as “either/or” explanations for the psychological mechanism by which nature improves mental health. In this paper Emily Scott and her colleagues describe the neural pathways involved with stress regulation and cognitive restoration and discuss how both theories can apply in complementary ways.
Scott, E.E., McDonnell, A.S., LoTemplio, S.B., Uchino, B.N., and Strayer, D.L. Parks Stewardship Forum. 2021. Berkeley, CA U.S.A.: eScholarship.org. DOI: 10.5070/P537151710.
Many people have approached the attention restoration and stress reduction theories as “either/or” explanations for the psychological mechanism by which nature improves mental health. In this paper Emily Scott and her colleagues describe the neural pathways involved with stress regulation and cognitive restoration and discuss how both theories can apply in complementary ways.
Scott, E.E., McDonnell, A.S., LoTemplio, S.B., Uchino, B.N., and Strayer, D.L. Parks Stewardship Forum. 2021. Berkeley, CA U.S.A.: eScholarship.org. DOI: 10.5070/P537151710.
Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework
Does biodiversity matter to human health? If so, how and why? In this review article a large group of experts in the field weigh in on the pathways by which biodiversity influences human health. The authors suggest ways to develop research programs that examine this important question and how to use the resulting information to guide policy recommendations.
Marselle, M.R., Hartig, T., Cox, D.T.C., de Bell, S., Knapp, S., Lindley, S., Triguero-Mas, M., Böhning-Gaese, K., Braubach, M., Cook, P.A., et al., Environment International, 2021. 150: p. 106420. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106420.
Does biodiversity matter to human health? If so, how and why? In this review article a large group of experts in the field weigh in on the pathways by which biodiversity influences human health. The authors suggest ways to develop research programs that examine this important question and how to use the resulting information to guide policy recommendations.
Marselle, M.R., Hartig, T., Cox, D.T.C., de Bell, S., Knapp, S., Lindley, S., Triguero-Mas, M., Böhning-Gaese, K., Braubach, M., Cook, P.A., et al., Environment International, 2021. 150: p. 106420. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106420.
Nature and well-being: The association of nature engagement and well-being during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
During the lock-downs of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearby nature - our gardens, things we see out windows, short walks in our neighborhoods, and bird watching- helped improve mental health and well-being for many
Phillips TB, Wells NM, Brown AH, Tralins JR, Bonter DN. People and Nature. 2023;5(2):607-620. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10433.
During the lock-downs of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearby nature - our gardens, things we see out windows, short walks in our neighborhoods, and bird watching- helped improve mental health and well-being for many
Phillips TB, Wells NM, Brown AH, Tralins JR, Bonter DN. People and Nature. 2023;5(2):607-620. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10433.
Associations of Greenness, Parks, and Blue Space With Neurodegenerative Disease Hospitalizations Among Older US Adults.
This study examined health records for Medicare beneficiaries from 2000 through 2016. The authors found that participants diagnoses with Alzheimer's Related Disease or Parkinson's Disease who live near areas with higher levels of greenness, as measured by Normalized Difference in Vegetation Index (NDVI) had lower risk of hospitalization than people living in less green areas.
Klompmaker JO, Laden F, Browning MHEM, Dominici F, Jimenez MP, Ogletree SS, Rigolon A, Zanobetti A, Hart JE, James P. JAMA Network Open. 2022;5(12):e2247664-e2247664. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.47664.
This study examined health records for Medicare beneficiaries from 2000 through 2016. The authors found that participants diagnoses with Alzheimer's Related Disease or Parkinson's Disease who live near areas with higher levels of greenness, as measured by Normalized Difference in Vegetation Index (NDVI) had lower risk of hospitalization than people living in less green areas.
Klompmaker JO, Laden F, Browning MHEM, Dominici F, Jimenez MP, Ogletree SS, Rigolon A, Zanobetti A, Hart JE, James P. JAMA Network Open. 2022;5(12):e2247664-e2247664. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.47664.