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According to a Spanish study, being in regular contact with nature would be beneficial for mental health. The chances of being happy would be even greater if one lives in a place that fulfills the criteria corresponding to the “3-30-300 rule”.
The “3-30-300 rule”: what is it?
What if the park-forest-trees combo was the key to happiness? This is what suggests this study carried out by the Institute for Global Health in Barcelona. After interviewing more than 3,000 people living in Barcelona, they found that the people who lived the closest to green spaces were also those whose mental health was the least impacted.
To reach this conclusion, the authors of the study relied on the 3-30-300 rule. Theorized by the Spanish researcher-forester Cecil Konijnendijk in 2021, this rule works according to the following principle: see 3 trees from your home, live in a neighborhood where at least 30% of the space is planted with trees and live less than 300 meters from the a green space, such as a park or a forest.
Good in your body, good in your head!
Living next to a green space, a rare chance
Among the sample of people involved in the study, only 4.7% of them had the privilege of living in a place fulfilling these three criteria. However, it is precisely this proportion of individuals who displayed the best mental health. Conversely, 22% did not benefit from any of the three.
“There is an urgent need to provide citizens with more green spaces. Planting more trees would not only improve the health of citizens, but also reduce heat island effects and contribute to carbon sequestration. Any initiative that leads to a greener city will be a step forward“, emphasizes Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, lead author of the study.
Remedy for loneliness, vector of conviviality, anti-stress rampart… Research confirming the benefits of regular contact with nature on our physical and mental health are legion. If you live in town and our accommodation is unfortunately not located in an area that meets the 3-30-300 rule, it would therefore be beneficial to regularly take a walk in the nearest park or even a forest bath for the most motivated!