Walks in nature may leave people less angry and tired than built settings

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   Sizes ran from 3 to 943 people, with about 38 in a typical study. Most were college students, physically active adults or children, and some studies were of children with ADHD.

2. 02

   What they did

   In most studies, people walked or ran for an hour or less in a park or other green place. Thirteen of the 25 studies had the same people do both.

3. 03

   What happened

   People rated themselves less angry, less sad and less tired after walks or runs in nature than in built or indoor places. Attention tests and tiredness were better after nature, but neither held once starting scores were allowed for. Energy, anxiety, calm, blood pressure and cortisol showed no clear difference.

What the review found

1. HelpedOther outcomes

   After walking or running in nature, people felt less angry than in built or indoor places.

   Pooled analysis of 8 studies · vs the same activity in a built or indoor place · they rated themselves · ⚠ mixes trials with other kinds of study

2. HelpedOther outcomes

   After walking or running in nature, people felt less sad or low than in built or indoor places.

   Pooled analysis of 5 studies · vs the same activity in a built or indoor place · they rated themselves · ⚠ mixes trials with other kinds of study

3. HelpedOther outcomes

   Walks in nature left people less tired than built places, but not once starting levels were allowed for.

   Pooled analysis of 4 studies · vs the same activity in a built or indoor place · they rated themselves · ⚠ mixes trials with other kinds of study

4. HelpedFocus

   Attention tests were better after walks in nature than in built places, but not once starting scores were allowed for.

   Pooled analysis of 5 studies · vs the same activity in a built or indoor place · ⚠ mixes trials with other kinds of study

Source