In different cultures across the world, social norms and traditions have emphasised the role that nature plays in our well-being. Nature is also a vital component of our physical health. We rely on natural geographies and ecosystems for food, water, energy, and many other essential resources that we need as physical beings.
We also recognize that nature is essential for our mental well-being. In an era of urbanisation where many people live isolated from natural environments, a lack of connection with nature may make people more vulnerable to stress and depression. Researchers have documented the positive benefits of spending time in nature, including improvements in cognition, mood, restoration, depression, and anxiety.
Like adults, children and young people also benefit from the restorative power of nature. Spending more time outdoors and in green spaces may help reduce mental health symptoms among an age group that’s particularly vulnerable to mental health disorders.
Why Is Nature Important for Our Well-Being?
Most people have experienced a sense of well-being, relaxation, or even euphoria in certain natural environments. The benefits of nature for our well-being often seem intuitive, based on our personal knowledge and experience of daily life. Some people believe that, as humans, we have an innate need to be connected to nature, much like we are described as innately social beings.
We don’t know for certain why nature is so important for our well-being. The most influential theories suggest that, as humans, we have mostly evolved to exist in natural environments. We’re predisposed to resonate with the places and rely on them for aspects of our well-being.
This means that we may not be properly adapted to live in the urban environments that often dominate our lives. And so, when we spend time in nature, we experience an increase in our positive feelings and a decrease in our negative ones, particularly with natural environments that are most hospitable to human life.
If nature makes us feel better psychologically, this process is rooted in our interactions with nature. That is, how our cognitive and biological processes are affected by, or affect, natural places. This might include the effect of nature on our cognitive capacities, such as attention and memory, our emotional states, and our experience of stress.
How Does Nature Affect the Way We Think and Feel?
One of the most important theories explaining nature’s restorative power is known as “stress reduction theory”. It describes an unconscious, automatic response to natural environments that can happen without someone realising it, and is especially noticeable among people who are already experiencing stress.
According to the theory, this unconscious response is rooted in our evolutionary survival. Certain natural places, such as those near water or with expansive horizons, may be perceived as safe havens, where it’s easier for humans to live and survive. So, being in these places may trigger a positive psychological response that can reduce stress and make us feel better.
The other influential theory about nature’s healing powers is called “attention restoration theory”. This theory focuses on the capacity of nature to replenish our ability to concentrate and focus. It suggests that urban settings wear out our attention more quickly than the natural environments where we used to live. By interacting with these natural environments, these capabilities can be restored.
Experts also believe that, aside from our innate cognitive responses, our opinions about nature may also influence the way it affects our cognitive functions and overall well-being. For example, people who feel like they are connected to nature – and so part of something bigger than themselves – may find it easier to step outside of anxious thoughts and a negative sense of self.
How Does Nature Affect the Mental Health of Children and Teenagers?
As with adults, our experience suggests that nature has a positive impact on the well-being of young people and teenagers. This includes their physical well-being, as well as their mental health and social fulfillment.
Protecting the mental health of young people is really important. Mental health disorders that develop among children and adolescents impact a young person’s social and emotional development, relationships, and identity formation. They often continue into adult life: half of all mental health disorders start before the age of fourteen.
Individual characteristics of young people, such as personality traits, can make them more or less vulnerable to mental health problems. However, external environmental factors also have a significant impact. This includes things like their home, school, and community, as well as the landscapes and people they interact with.
If nature has the potential to improve the mental health of young people, ensuring children and teenagers are able to spend time in nature is crucial. But many children growing up in urban environments have limited interactions with nature. Consequently, some schools and other institutions have introduced programs that take children to natural landscapes to experience their restorative capacities.
There’s still not a lot of scientific research about the effect of nature on young people’s mental health. However, a recent systematic review suggests that nature can nurture their well-being in various ways.
The review found that:
- Engagement with nature may improve young people’s self-esteem
- Interacting with nature may reduce stress among young people
- Adventure programs in nature may improve coping skills, interactions with others, and emotional regulation
- Nature was linked to increased resilience
There are many ways to encourage children to spend more time outdoors or in nature. Schools might incorporate more outdoor exercise, such as activities in local parks, into the school day. Or they may offer trips to nearby natural landscapes or even hold lessons outside.
Some healthcare providers now write ‘prescriptions’ for outdoor physical activities in parks, known as park prescriptions.
The Wave Clinic: Transformative Recovery Programs for Young People
The Wave Clinic is a specialist mental health treatment space, dedicated to children, adolescents, families, and young adults. Our programs combine clinical care with education and enriching experiences, supporting young people to grow in self-confidence, develop their sense of self, and learn life skills.
Our team consists of experts in child and adolescent psychiatry, combining their experience to deliver exceptional mental health care.
If you’re interested in our programs, contact us today to find out more.
