University students who took walks in nature showed the greatest reduction in stress hormones and improved mood compared to those who exercised indoors or simply viewed nature scenes, according to a new study.
Researchers investigated the potential restorative effects of spending time in natural environments on psychological well-being, particularly during stressful periods. They hypothesized that walking in nature would provide greater stress-reduction benefits compared to alternative activities like watching nature documentaries on TV or exercising on a treadmill indoors.
Nature as an Antidote to Stress
The study, involving 90 healthy university students, examined the participants’ mood and physiological responses to stress under different conditions. The students were randomly assigned to one of three groups:
- Walking in Nature: Participants in this group took walks in natural outdoor environments during both an exam-free period and during their exam time, a typically stressful period for students.
- Nature Viewing: This group watched nature documentaries on TV during both the exam-free and exam periods.
- Physical Exercise: Participants in this group exercised on treadmills in a gym setting during both exam-free and exam periods.
Stress Response and Mood Across Conditions
The researchers assessed the participants’ mood and physiological stress responses before and after their assigned activities, and again after they completed a laboratory stressor task.
The findings revealed positive restorative effects across all three intervention groups, as evidenced by a significant decrease in cortisol levels (a key stress hormone) following their respective activities (p < .001).
However, the study identified a clear advantage for spending time in nature. Students who went for walks in nature displayed significantly lower cortisol levels compared to those who viewed nature scenes during the exam period (p < .05).
Nature’s Mood-Boosting Power
The study also observed a notable improvement in mood among participants who went for walks in nature. These students reported feeling more positive compared to those who engaged in either nature viewing (p < .001) or physical exercise alone (p < .05).
The researchers suggest that these findings highlight the potential of spending time in natural environments as a powerful tool for managing stress and promoting emotional well-being, particularly during challenging periods.
While all three activities offered some restorative benefits, walking in nature emerged as the most effective strategy for reducing stress hormones and enhancing mood, especially during stressful academic times.
Future research could explore the underlying mechanisms by which exposure to nature exerts these positive effects. Understanding the specific aspects of natural environments that contribute to stress reduction could inform the design of interventions to promote mental health and well-being in our increasingly urbanized world.
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