The Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, usually translated as “forest bathing,” has received a lot of attention in recent years. Studies have found that immersing yourself completely in nature with the help of a trained guide can have significant health benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved immunity, and better mental health.
While shinrin-yoku is a formally guided practice, other research has shown that simply spending time outdoors can also be good for your physical and mental health. A 2021 review of research, for example, found that simply spending 20 to 90 minutes gardening, exercising, or doing other activities outdoors could improve mental health.
While most of the research on the benefits of going outside has been done on adults, relatively little is known about the benefits that spending time in nature can have on children. And it was that question that Scottish researchers set out to explore in a large, nationwide study published in the journal Environmental International in June.
To study the effects of outdoor activity on children’s mental health, a team of researchers from the University of Glasgow used data from Studying Physical Activity in Children’s Environments across Scotland (SPACES), a nationwide, long-term study of Scotland’s youth.
Data was collected from 640 participants who were 10–11 years old in 2015-2016, and again when they turned 17-18. At both timepoints, the children were asked to wear a GPS tracker and an accelerometer during waking hours (5 a.m. to 11 p.m.) for eight days so researchers could monitor both the amount of time they spent outdoors and the intensity of their outdoor activity. The participants’ mental health was assessed using the well-validated parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
Data analysis showed that children who spent just 60 minutes per day outdoors had a 50% lower risk of experiencing mental health issues. These results were seen regardless of their activity level—that is, using natural environments for light activities, such as walking, was equally as beneficial as using these spaces for more vigorous activities, such as running.
“Our findings suggest that encouraging children to spend more time in nature could be a simple yet effective way to support their mental health,” said lead researcher Fiona Caryl, PhD.
Conclusions
Perhaps most importantly, analysis of the data determined that the beneficial effects of spending time in nature were more pronounced among children from lower-income households. “This provides compelling evidence of nature’s role in reducing gaps in mental health between higher- and lower-income children,” said senior author Rich Mitchell, PhD. “It suggests that natural environments…can reduce inequalities by disproportionately benefiting those from less affluent backgrounds.”
For this reason, the researchers are calling for policymakers and health professionals to work to improve access to natural spaces in disadvantaged areas and to engage in efforts to raise awareness about the mental health benefits of spending time in nature.
