• Human Impact Partners
  • Human Impact Partners
  • Human Impact Partners
  • Human Impact Partners
  • Human Impact Partners

Human Impact Partners Evidence Base

Evidence Base Home » Parks and Open Spaces » Access to parks and open spaces has an impact on stress depression and mental functioning

Articles in Access to parks and open spaces has an impact on stress, depression, and mental functioning.

  • Parks and open spaces provide needed reprieve from everyday stressors, acting as 'escape facilities'. Being able to escape fast-paced urban environments improves the health by reducing stress and depression and improving the ability to focus, pay attention, be productive, and recover from illness.

    Maller C, Townsend M, Pryor A, Brown P, St. Leger L. 2005. Healthy nature healthy people: 'contact with nature' as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations. Health Promotion International 21(1):45-53.

  • A study in Chicago showed that people living in a housing project who had some green space near them scored higher on the ability to manage major life issues, they procrastinated less, found their issues to be less difficult, and reported them to be less severe and long-standing than those who lived in barren surroundings.

    Kuo FE. 2001. Coping with poverty impacts of environment and attention in the inner city. Environment and Behavior 33(1):5-34.

  • People dissatisfied with their available green spaces have 2.4 times higher risk for mental health issues.

    Guite HF, Clark C, Ackrill G. 2006. The impact of physical and urban environment on mental well-being. Public Health 120:1117-1126.

  • Researchers in Chicago have found that children with Attention Deficit Disorder function better than usual after activities in green settings and that the 'greener' a child's play area, the less severe their ADD symptoms.

    Taylor AF, Kuo FE, Sullivan WC. 2001. Coping with ADD: The surprising connection to green play settings. Environment and Behavior 33(1)54-77.

  • Savanna-like settings are associated with self-reported feelings of “peacefulness,” “tranquility,” or “relaxation.” Viewing such settings leads to decreased fear and anger and is associated with enhanced mental alertness, attention, and cognitive performance.

    Trust for Public Land. The Benefits of Parks: why America needs more city parks and open space. 2005.

  • For girls who live in high-rise residences, the presence of trees and lawn adjacent to their dwelling leads to a greater sense of safety and feeling of belonging; lower levels of fears, fewer incivilities and less aggressive and violent behavior; less chronic mental fatigue, corresponding to a lower likelihood of being impulsive and irritable; and greater self-discipline and ability to concentrate.

    R. Kaplan and S. Kaplan (2005) Preference, Restoration, and Meaningful Action in the Context of Nearby Nature. In P. F. Barlett (Ed.) Urban place: Reconnecting with the natural world. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. (Pp. 271-298).