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in collaboration with
Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Medical validation:
August 10, 2022
If we already know that nature is good for morale, a new study published in the journal Science Advances shows that it brings many other health benefits.
Spending time in the forest, by a lake or in the mountains allows you to find yourself and feel better psychologically – that’s a fact. But according to researchers from the University of Tokyo, nature would bring us much more “benefits”. Explanations.
A close link between nature and well-being
To determine the extent of these benefits, the scientists analyzed 301 academic papers investigating the links between ESCs and human well-being. These CES or “cultural ecosystem services” include the intangible benefits provided by the environment, namely: recreation, spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, social relations and aesthetic values.
In total, ” 227 unique pathways linking a single CES to a single constituent of human well-being (such as connectedness, spirituality, or health) have been identified.
These links were exploited to isolate 16 underlying mechanisms: cognitive, cohesive, communicative, creative, evolutionary, formative, intuitive, regenerative, remunerative…
However, close links between SWCs and human well-being have been observed.
” Our results suggest that ESCs tend to have the highest positive contributions to constituents of human well-being such as physical health and mental health via regenerative mechanisms. “say the scientists.
For example, activities carried out in the middle of nature, such as hiking or camping, would promote social cohesion.
A close link has also been observed between outdoor recreation and learning. For example, researchers have noticed a positive effect on the growth of children in the natural environment. He is thus endowed with knowledge and skills that can be beneficial in the future “.
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Irritating and destructive mechanisms detected
Although the majority of the effects caused by the natural environment are positive, some would turn out to be harmful to human well-being.
Thus, certain sounds of nature, the presence of wild and disordered landscapes or the presence of devastating animals (rodents, birds), could affect mental health.
” For example, some studies have recorded that obsessive fear can be triggered by certain natural features through visual (or sometimes auditory) interactions, such as scary animals, dangerous predators, animal blood, and dark, tall tree-covered areas. “, specify the scientists.
However, landscaping or children’s early contact with nature can positively influence these fears.
The research team hopes that this work will enable people to take an interest in their personal well-being, but also to pay more attention to their environment.