Youth report feeling physically, mentally better after spending time in nature

A survery suggests actively supporting time spent outside could help promote overall well-being among teens and young adults.

10:14 AM

Author | Nardy Baeza Bickel

teenagers walking forest train tracks
Getty Images

Taking a walk in the park or just going outdoors could help youth feel better, and promoting public health policies that actively support time spent outside could help promote overall well-being among teens and young adults, according to a new University of Michigan survey.

"Our findings suggest that spending time in nature,-which youth define broadly as being outside, being around trees and woods and greenery, can have strong public health implications, given that youth might not need to travel as far or spend a lot of money to access nature," said Astrid Zamora, a fourth-year doctoral student at University of Michigan's School of Public Health and lead researcher of the report published on BMC Public Health.

"We know that mental health issues are highly prevalent among Americans in general, and we also know that it's very costly to access and utilize mental health services."

MORE FROM MICHIGAN: Sign up for our weekly newsletter

For their study, researchers used MyVoice, a text messaging poll designed to gather fast and qualitative responses from youth ages 14-24. In September 2020, researchers sent five open-ended questions that aimed to assess perceptions regarding nature to 1,174 participants. Qualitative responses were later analyzed.

They found that of the 994 respondents, many felt that spending time in nature positively impacted their mental health:

  • 52% mentioned that it made them "feel calm when I am out in nature," 22% said that it relieved stress or "reduces my anxiety" and 17% felt that being in nature positively impacted their physical health and "makes me feel more active and in shape."

  • 88% want to spend more time in nature, with 22% mentioning barriers impeding them from doing so.

Zamora said mental and physical health of youth has been a growing public health concern in the United States, yet many youth continue to lack access to services.

"We know that youth experience a variety of physiological, lifestyle and behavioral changes during this life stage, which may place them at an increased risk of experiencing both poor mental and physical health," she said. "What we also know is that today's youth are spending a lot less time in nature than previous generations with the uptake of technology likely being one of many factors associated with this decline.

"We feel this information would be imperative in informing community-level policies and interventions that aim to support youth mental and physical health."

MyVoice is directed by Tammy Chang, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., associate professor of family medicine at Michigan Medicine and a member of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

This article was originally posted on the Michigan News website.

Like Podcasts? Add the Michigan Medicine News Break on iTunes, Google Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts.


More Articles About: Preventative health and wellness Community Health Growth and Development Exercise Children's Health
Health Lab word mark overlaying blue cells
Health Lab

Explore a variety of health care news & stories by visiting the Health Lab home page for more articles.

Media Contact Public Relations

Department of Communication at Michigan Medicine

[email protected]

734-764-2220

Stay Informed

Want top health & research news weekly? Sign up for Health Lab’s newsletters today!

Subscribe
Featured News & Stories two Black women standing next to eachother, one in a pink tank top, one in long sleeve purple shirt, with yoga purple matts
Health Lab
Using culture to encourage exercise can help close a cancer survival gap – and improve quality of life 
Angela Fong, Ph.D., an assistant professor of applied exercise science at the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology and a member of the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center, says a variety of factors can contribute to a lower five-year survival rate of cancer among members of racialized and historically marginalized groups.
little girl in pain with pink background touching stomach and seeing inside red
Health Lab
Diagnostic stewardship optimizes detection of appendicitis
University of Michigan researchers found that emergency departments vary widely in how they balance the need to diagnose appendicitis with the potential harms of overtesting.
two men together walking outside
Health Lab
Exercise can reduce your cancer risk and help prevent its return
A director of exercise and health behavior in oncology shares ways to help cancer survivors live longer and better lives by incorporating exercise and other physical activity into everyday routines.
girl brushing teeth with family in bathroom looking in mirror drawing
Health Lab
Over 1/3 of parents say their child has experienced dental problems that reflect oral hygiene habits
More than one in three parents say their child has faced issues like tooth decay, cavities, stained teeth, gum concerns or tooth pain over the past two years linked to their oral health routine, a national poll suggests.
sink brushing pink toothbrush
Health Lab
Fluoride Q&A: An expert breaks down how it helps kids, and its unique history in Michigan
Sarah Clark, M.P.H., from the Department of Pediatrics at Michigan Medicine, answers what fluoride is and why it supports healthy teeth.
drawing of three hands with pills in hand background green
Health Lab
Adderall shortage may be associated with increased use of alternative ADHD medication in kids
Study suggests that the Adderall shortage did not cause many children to stop stimulant therapy altogether but may have led to them switching to alternative stimulants for ADHD.