{"id":28034,"date":"2025-08-06T18:17:42","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T18:17:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=28034"},"modified":"2025-08-06T18:27:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T18:27:16","slug":"just-15-minutes-in-nature-can-boost-mental-health-for-city-dwellers-stanford-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/just-15-minutes-in-nature-can-boost-mental-health-for-city-dwellers-stanford-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Just 15 Minutes in Nature Can Boost Your Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A new study from Stanford University\u2019s Natural Capital Project shows that even brief interactions with nature can significantly enhance mental health for urbanites. Discover how this research could revolutionize city planning.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0dfbf163 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px;\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>With an increasing number of people living in urban environments, mental health issues such as anxiety and mood disorders are becoming more prevalent. A new study from Stanford University\u2019s Natural Capital Project (NatCap) reveals that even 15 minutes of time spent in nature can yield considerable benefits for mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s44284-025-00297-9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Published<\/a> in the journal Nature Cities, the study provides vital insights for urban planners and policymakers. The data suggests that integrating green spaces into cities not only helps alleviate mental health issues but also contributes to lowering urban temperatures and capturing carbon emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are working to translate the effect size we found through this analysis to more intuitive indicators that would be useful for decision-makers by way of a new mental health-focused InVEST model,\u201d lead author Yingjie Li, a postdoctoral scholar at NatCap and in the Department of Biology in Stanford\u2019s School of Humanities and Sciences, said in a news release. \u201cFor example, we could run scenarios like: if a city currently has 20% green space or tree cover, how many preventable cases of mental health disorders could be avoided if that were increased to 30%? We will also be working to include estimates of the potential avoided healthcare costs associated with such improvements in urban nature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pioneering Urban Nature Models<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>NatCap is renowned for its suite of InVEST tools, which assess ecosystem services worldwide. These tools now include specific measures for urban nature aimed at quantifying both mental and physical health benefits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPrevious studies have documented strong links between contact with nature and mental health,\u201d added senior author Anne Guerry, the chief strategy officer and lead scientist at NatCap. \u201cBut with most studies, you either can\u2019t infer a causal link, they can\u2019t be easily generalized, or they aren\u2019t designed to distinguish the effects of different types of nature. This analysis helps fill that gap.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study consolidates data from nearly 5,900 participants across 78 field-based experimental studies, including randomized controlled trials and pre-post intervention studies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remarkably, the researchers found that urban forests have a more profound effect on reducing depression and anxiety than other types of green spaces, and that young adults benefit even more significantly &#8212; an important insight given that most mental health disorders arise before the age of 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical Implications for Urban Planning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The study underscores the importance of creating diverse types of green spaces. While large city parks and urban forests are invaluable, the researchers also advocate for the development of smaller &#8220;pocket parks&#8221; and the planting of additional street trees to improve accessibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even smaller interventions, such as installing windows with views of green spaces or setting up quiet, nature-filled spaces for community activities, could provide mental health benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study has also had an impact on Li&#8217;s day-to-day life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He walks to the office more often and finds that he&#8217;s becoming increasingly curious about the birds and plants he sees along the route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI also talk to my friends about thinking this way and encourage them to notice how even small moments with nature can make a difference,&#8221; he added. &#8220;This work has helped me see that urban nature isn\u2019t just good for cities &#8212; it\u2019s good for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additional co-authors from Stanford University and other institutions, including Leiden University, Michigan State University, Lanzhou University, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the University of Heidelberg, contributed to this study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/naturalcapitalproject.stanford.edu\/news\/city-dwellers-even-15-minutes-nature-can-improve-mental-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Stanford DOERR School of Sustainability<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With an increasing number of people living in urban environments, mental health issues such as anxiety and mood disorders are becoming more prevalent. A new study from Stanford University\u2019s Natural Capital Project (NatCap) reveals that even 15 minutes of time spent in nature can yield considerable benefits for mental health. Published in the journal Nature [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,10],"tags":[247,310,433,35,53,413],"class_list":["post-28034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mental-health","category-sustainability","tag-harvard-t-h-chan-school-of-public-health","tag-lanzhou-university","tag-leiden-university","tag-michigan-state-university","tag-stanford-university","tag-university-of-heidelberg"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"With an increasing number of people living in urban environments, mental health issues such as anxiety and mood disorders are becoming more prevalent. A new study from Stanford University\u2019s Natural Capital Project (NatCap) reveals that even 15 minutes of time spent in nature can yield considerable benefits for mental health. Published in the journal Nature&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28034"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28034\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28066,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28034\/revisions\/28066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}