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Contact to Nature Benefits Health: Mixed Effectiveness of Different Mechanisms

Author

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  • Mathias Hofmann

    (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Economics and Social Sciences, Social Sciences in Landscape Research, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
    Media Centre, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany)

  • Christopher Young

    (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Economics and Social Sciences, Social Sciences in Landscape Research, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland)

  • Tina M. Binz

    (Center for Forensic Hair Analytics, University of Zürich, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland)

  • Markus R. Baumgartner

    (Center for Forensic Hair Analytics, University of Zürich, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland)

  • Nicole Bauer

    (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Economics and Social Sciences, Social Sciences in Landscape Research, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland)

Abstract

How can urban nature contribute to the reduction of chronic stress? We twice measured the concentration of the “stress hormone” cortisol in the hair of 85 volunteer gardeners (six months apart), relating cortisol level change to (self-reported) characteristics of their recreational activities. Both time spent in nature and physical activity led to decreases in cortisol, while time spent being idle led to an increase. At high levels of present stressors, however, the relationship for time spent in nature and for idleness was reversed. Time spent with social interaction had no effect on cortisol levels. Our results indicate that physical activity is an effective means of mitigating the negative effects of chronic stress. The results regarding the time spent in nature and time spent being idle are less conclusive, suggesting the need for more research. We conclude that if chronic stress cannot be abolished by eradicating its sources, public health may take to measures to reduce it—providing urban nature being one effective possibility.

Suggested Citation

  • Mathias Hofmann & Christopher Young & Tina M. Binz & Markus R. Baumgartner & Nicole Bauer, 2017. "Contact to Nature Benefits Health: Mixed Effectiveness of Different Mechanisms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2017:i:1:p:31-:d:124322
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Meredith S Berry & Mary M Sweeney & Justice Morath & Amy L Odum & Kerry E Jordan, 2014. "The Nature of Impulsivity: Visual Exposure to Natural Environments Decreases Impulsive Decision-Making in a Delay Discounting Task," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(5), pages 1-7, May.
    2. Daniela Haluza & Regina Schönbauer & Renate Cervinka, 2014. "Green Perspectives for Public Health: A Narrative Review on the Physiological Effects of Experiencing Outdoor Nature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-17, May.
    3. Florian Lederbogen & Peter Kirsch & Leila Haddad & Fabian Streit & Heike Tost & Philipp Schuch & Stefan Wüst & Jens C. Pruessner & Marcella Rietschel & Michael Deuschle & Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, 2011. "City living and urban upbringing affect neural social stress processing in humans," Nature, Nature, vol. 474(7352), pages 498-501, June.
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