RESEARCH

Minimum Time Dose in Nature to Positively Impact the Mental Health of College-Aged Students, and How to Measure It: A Scoping Review

The main result of this review is that even brief periods of time spent in nature can positively impact the mental health of college students. This suggests that making natural spaces easily available and encouraging students to spend even a little time there could be a helpful way to support their mental well-being.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Mental Health Challenges/Trauma, Students

Setting or Context: Schools/Educational Settings, Natural Areas/Parks/Forest

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Improved Stress Management, Improved Cognitive Function

Allied Profession Intersections: Recreational Therapy, Landscape Design, Forest/Ecotherapy

Type of Activity: Forest/Natural Area Immersion

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Observational Research, Qualitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Patient-Reported Outcomes, Standardized Assessment Tools, Program Effectiveness

Access: Free

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Summary

This study looked at how much time college students need to spend in nature to feel better mentally. The researchers reviewed existing studies that measured the impact of spending time in natural settings on the mental health of college-aged individuals. They wanted to find out the minimum amount of time in nature that leads to positive changes, what kind of activities in nature were most effective, and how these changes were usually measured. The researchers looked at studies that compared spending time in nature (like parks or forests) with spending time in urban settings.

The review of 14 studies found that even a short period of time in nature can make a difference. Specifically, as little as 10 to 20 minutes of sitting or walking in natural environments led to improvements in mental well-being for college students. These benefits included things like reduced stress, anxiety, and negative feelings, as well as increases in positive emotions and feelings of being refreshed. The studies measured these changes using various methods, including looking at stress hormones, heart rate, and self-reported feeling.

Link

Meredith, G.R, Rakow, D.A, Eldermire, E.R.B. et al. (2020). Minimum time dose in nature to positively impact the mental health of college-aged students, and how to measure it: A scoping review. Front. Psychol., 14.

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