More and more people are concentrating in major urban centers. While cities are full of people and possibilities, this is far from making them welcoming environments. Loneliness and anxiety are common in the fast-paced life of the "concrete jungle," and nature may hold the key to alleviating these feelings.
Numerous studies have been published showing how contact with nature positively affects our health. Listening to birds chirping, getting your hands in the dirt, or spending time in contact with greenery—all of this benefits our physical and mental well-being. Now, researchers have shown that green spaces also help alleviate feelings of loneliness.
Loneliness: An Epidemic
According to Dr. Vivek Murthy, who served as US Surgeon General during the Obama administration, the global "loneliness epidemic" is an overlooked consequence of urban life that carries a serious risk of reducing life expectancy.
"Loneliness is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, and dementia," Murthy said. "At work, it is associated with reductions in task performance. This limits creativity and impairs other aspects of executive function, such as decision-making."
Many researchers have proposed solutions to combat loneliness, such as redesigning urban architecture to facilitate social interaction or making it easier for people to own pets. Now, a new study recommends adding nature to the mix.
Connection and Nature
The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, include an analysis of assessments provided by more than 750 UK residents who volunteered to use a customized smartphone app for two weeks.
Participants were randomly prompted three times a day during waking hours using a technique called "ecological momentary assessment." In addition to questions about overcrowding and perceived social inclusion, volunteers were asked about their natural surroundings: "Can you see trees right now?"; "Can you see plants right now?"; "Can you see or hear birds right now?"; and "Can you see water right now?"
Feelings of "momentary loneliness" were then rated on a five-point scale.
According to more than 16,600 assessments received, overcrowded environments increased feelings of loneliness by 38%, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, education level, or occupation—the more people around, the greater the sense of loneliness.
In contrast, when people interacted with green spaces, heard birds, or looked at the sky, the perception of loneliness dropped by 28%. Social inclusion, defined by the research team as feeling welcome within a group or sharing similar values, also decreased loneliness by 21%.
"If loneliness is alleviated by contact with nature, improving access to high-quality green spaces, such as parks and rivers, in dense urban areas could help people feel less lonely," the scientists highlight.
Architect and landscape architect Johanna Gibbons, a member of the study's research team, explains that cities are likely the only global habitat growing at a rapid pace. "Therefore, we must create urban habitats where people can thrive," she said.
Via CicloVivo.
This article was written by Natasha Olsen. The translation is powered by AI.
