The impacts of nature experience on human cognitive function and mental health

Bratman, Gregory N.; Hamilton, J. Paul; Daily, Gretchen C.

doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06400.x

Cited by 949 publications

(707 citation statements)

References 113 publications

(314 reference statements)

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“…A loss of a "sense of place" or identity, depression, and emotional stress have all been documented in people experiencing degradation of the natural environment around them (69). On the positive side, experience in nature, as well as outdoor exercise, have been associated with increased mental and physical well-being, as well as enhanced cognitive functioning (70). Reduced postoperative recovery times and lower analgesic requirements in hospitalized patients with access to a natural view through their room window point to a deeply seeded relationship between the natural world and the psycho-physiological dimensions of human health (71).…”

Section: Highlights Of the Recent Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Human health impacts of ecosystem alteration

Myers

Gaffikin²,

Golden

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

383

261

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Human activity is rapidly transforming most of Earth's natural systems. How this transformation is impacting human health, whose health is at greatest risk, and the magnitude of the associated disease burden are relatively new subjects within the field of environmental health. We discuss what is known about the human health implications of changes in the structure and function of natural systems and propose that these changes are affecting human health in a variety of important ways. We identify several gaps and limitations in the research that has been done to date and propose a more systematic and comprehensive approach to applied research in this field. Such efforts could lead to a more robust understanding of the human health impacts of accelerating environmental change and inform decision making in the land-use planning, environmental conservation, and public health policy realms.At least since Hippocrates wrote On Airs, Waters, and Places, the natural environment has been viewed as an important determinant of human health. However, over the last century, the field of environmental health has focused increasingly on quantifying exposure-response relationships for toxins encountered in the human-dominated environment: from an initial focus on workplace exposures, to a population-level focus on radiation, heavy metals, air and water pollution, and more recently, to exposure to endocrinedisrupting chemicals. Over this period, relatively little attention has been paid to how changes in the structure and function of Earth's natural systems might affect human health. Growing evidence that changes in these natural systems can affect human health in a variety of important ways and the increasing pace and extent of these changes has prompted this Perspective. In it, we review current understanding of this field, identify some of its gaps and limitations, and suggest an approach to expanding our understanding.Human activity is transforming nearly all of Earth's natural systems. With the human population now exceeding 7 billion people and rapid growth in per capita consumption of goods and services, humanity's growing ecological footprint is altering the planet's land cover, rivers and oceans, climate system, biogeochemical cycles, and the

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Section: Highlights Of the Recent Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Human health impacts of ecosystem alteration

Myers

Gaffikin²,

Golden

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

383

261

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These green spaces included city parks [32,33,52,80] and urban forests [34]. Most of the studies were experimental and compared the effects of walking in green spaces and urban spaces on health outcomes [32][33][34]80]. One study was a field experiment investigating the effects before and after a walk in a park [52].…”

Section: Walks In Green Spacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One study was a field experiment investigating the effects before and after a walk in a park [52]. The health benefits associated with walks in green spaces include better capacity to pay attention [32,33,80] and a greater tendency for pro-social behaviors [52,53].…”

Section: Walks In Green Spacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green Infrastructure, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, and Human Health: A Review

Suppakittpaisarn

Jiang

Sullivan

2017

Curr Landscape Ecol Rep

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Purpose of the Review In a growing trend, cities around the world have been installing Green Infrastructure (GI) in the form of vegetated landscapes that provide ecological benefits such as stormwater management, wildlife habitats, and temperature moderation (Tzoulas et al. Landsc Urban Plan. 61(3):11, 2007). Some GI, such as trees and green spaces, have positive impacts on human health. It is less clear how newer types of GI, such as rain gardens, green roofs, and bioswales, impact human health. These newer GI types are called Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI). Planners and designers need to know the extent to which GSI impacts humans. This systematic review does exactly that-we explore the published evidence regarding the relationships between GI and human health. Recent Findings We identified 55 peer-reviewed articles addressing these issues. Familiar types of GI, such as trees and green spaces, were found to be beneficial to the body (cardiovascular system, cortisol regulation, and pregnancy health), mind (attention capacity and mental health), and behavior (lower crime, better self-regulation, and more pro-social behaviors). We found much less research exploring the impacts of GSI on health.Summary Our findings show that for some of the specific categories of GI, such as trees, considerable evidence exists on the impacts on human health. For other categories, such as rain gardens, green roofs, or biodiverse plantings, however, there is scant evidence of a health impact. We believe it is likely that these forms of GI do impact human health and that the reason for the scarcity of evidence is that few careful studies have examined the impacts of newer forms of GI on specific human health outcomes. Future researchers should investigate the health effects of type, dose, frequency, and duration of exposure to GI and GSI.

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“…Furthermore, views on what defines and determines healthy children and healthy environments are not fixed but can be influenced, see e.g. [30]. The measurements and observations required for effective monitoring, be it the height and weight of children or the stem-diameters and densities of a forest are tangible and close to daily life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Motivation matters: Lessons for REDD+ participatory measurement, reporting and verification from three decades of child health participatory monitoring in Indonesia

Ekowati¹,

Hofstee²

2016

Motivation Matters: Lessons for REDD+ Participatory Measurement, Reporting and Verification From Three Decades of Child Health

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Participatory Measurement, Reporting and Verification (PMRV), in the context of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation with its co-benefits (REDD+) requires sustained monitoring and reporting by community members. This requirement appears challenging and has yet to be achieved. Other successful, long established, community self-monitoring and reporting systems may provide valuable lessons. The Indonesian integrated village healthcare program (Posyandu) was initiated in the 1980s and still provides effective and successful participatory measurement and reporting of child health status across the diverse, and often remote, communities of Indonesia. Posyandu activities focus on the growth and development of children under the age of five by recording their height and weight and reporting these monthly to the Ministry of Health. Here we focus on the local Posyandu personnel (kaders) and their motivations and incentives for contributing. While Posyandu and REDD+ measurement and reporting activities differ, there are sufficient commonalities to draw useful lessons. We find that the Posyandu kaders are motivated by their interests in health care, by their belief that it benefits the community, and by encouragement by local leaders. Recognition from the community, status within the system, training opportunities, competition among communities, and small payments provide incentives to sustain participation. We examine these lessons in the context of REDD+.

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The impacts of nature experience on human cognitive function and mental health

Cited by 949 publications

References 113 publications

Human health impacts of ecosystem alteration

Human health impacts of ecosystem alteration

Green Infrastructure, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, and Human Health: A Review

Motivation matters: Lessons for REDD+ participatory measurement, reporting and verification from three decades of child health participatory monitoring in Indonesia

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