12 sources: 1 crossover trial, 6 meta-analyses, 4 randomised controlled trials, 1 systematic review
Environmental · Practice
Spend Time in Forests and Parks
Regular unhurried time in forests, parks, or trails, including slow, sensory 'forest bathing' walks; Siah 2023 suggests forest bathing can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Beta content: this dimension's review set is version 0.9-beta and upgrades in place after the Round-2 internal reviews.
3 of 12 sources behind this entry were read from the abstract only; they are marked in the sources list.
60 min · weekly
Beginner-friendlyForests, parks, trails
Before you start
Trail safety, terrain and mobility; heat, ticks, and allergy season.
When to seek a professional
- Environmental hazard on site (hazardous conditions): contact the local authority; persistent mood symptoms: see a mental-health professional
How to do it
A longer nature outing (e.g., a park or forest visit) at least weekly
Optional: comfortable footwear, weather gearFor most adultsCity dwellers
What the evidence says
What the sources say
Siah 2023 (meta-analysis of 36 studies) reports that its analysis suggested forest bathing can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety (SMD of -0.67 and -0.84). Barton 2010 (meta-analysis) reports that green exercise improved self-esteem and mood. Wang 2026 (meta-analysis of 26 studies) reports green exercise improved older adults' mental health against indoor exercise, urban exercise and waitlist, and concludes that it may be an effective approach. Roe 2020 (randomised trial) suggests that urban green space offers promising opportunities for supporting older people's mental health. Brown 2014 (randomised trial) reports that the exercise environment did not seem to influence activity levels or health outcomes. Browning 2020 (systematic review) reports that experiments without control groups or randomisation reported more positive findings.
Common misconceptions
- You need a remote wilderness, Roe 2020 studied walks in urban green districts
- It has to be strenuous, no cited source sets a minimum intensity
What we won't claim
- Forest bathing cures depression or anxiety
- Park time replaces medical or psychological treatment
12 sources: 1 crossover trial, 6 meta-analyses, 4 randomised controlled trials, 1 systematic review
- Agreement
- Direction recorded for 0 of 12 sources; not yet recorded for the rest.
- The claim's outcome
- Outcome not yet recorded
- Certainty
- No source states a certainty rating.
- How the sources were read
- Some sources are based on abstracts, not full texts.
What each source measured and concluded (12)
meta-analysis · 2024
Zhu et al. (2024) — Effects of natural sound exposure on health recovery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- What it measured
- Health recovery (emotional, physiological, cognitive)
- How it was read
- based on the abstract, not the full text
- What the review says it includes
- Systematic review and meta-analysis
- Studies and participants, as stated
- N=15 studies; 1285 participants
meta-analysis · 2010
Barton et al. (2010) — What is the best dose of nature and green exercise for improving mental health? A multi-study analysis.
- What it measured
- Self-esteem and mood (mental health indicators)
- How it was read
- based on the abstract, not the full text
- What the review says it includes
- Multi-study analysis / meta-analysis
- Studies and participants, as stated
- 10 UK studies; 1252 participants
crossover trial · 2025
Laezza et al. (2025) — Evaluating the Benefits of Green Exercise: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Natural and Built Environments Assessed for their Restorative Properties.
- What it measured
- Restorative effects: psychological outcomes (perceived restorativeness, restoration, emotions, enjoyment, intentions) and physiological measures (cortisol, heart rate, HRV) across natural, urban, indoor 1-hour walks
- How it was read
- based on the abstract, not the full text
randomised controlled trial · 2020
Roe et al. (2020) — The Urban Built Environment, Walking and Mental Health Outcomes Among Older Adults: A Pilot Study
- What it measured
- Cognitive reaction time and emotional well-being.
- How it measured it
- Deary-Liewald computer-based simple reaction time test (SRT) and mood scale.
- How it was read
- read in full text
randomised controlled trial · 2020
Choe et al. (2020) — Does a natural environment enhance the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)? Examining the mental health and wellbeing, and nature connectedness benefits
- What it measured
- Mental health and wellbeing outcomes.
- How it was read
- read in full text
randomised controlled trial · 2025
Harries et al. (2025) — Noticing nature: The role of environmental awareness in promoting well‐being
- What it measured
- State well-being.
- How it measured it
- Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (validated).
- How it was read
- read in full text
meta-analysis · 2026
Wang et al. (2026) — Effects of green exercise on mental health in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- What it measured
- Mental health.
- How it measured it
- Profile of Mood States (POMS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12).
- How it was read
- read in full text
- What the review says it includes
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of 26 studies
- Studies and participants, as stated
- N=1,468 participants across 26 studies
- Heterogeneity, as stated
- Residual heterogeneity
- Heterogeneity, as stated
- Measurement heterogeneity
randomised controlled trial · 2014
Brown et al. (2014) — Walks4Work: assessing the role of the natural environment in a workplace physical activity intervention.
- What it measured
- Resting autonomic function (HR and lnHF).
- How it measured it
- HR monitors and eMotion sensor (objective).
- How it was read
- read in full text
meta-analysis · 2021
Yao et al. (2021) — Impact of Exposure to Natural and Built Environments on Positive and Negative Affect: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- What it measured
- Positive and negative affect.
- How it measured it
- Positive and Negative Affective Schedule (PANAS) (self-report).
- Its conclusion, in its own words
- “The findings will help convince the health professionals and policymakers to encourage the residents to increase their time spent in the natural environment.”
- How it was read
- read in full text
- What the review says it includes
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of 20 studies
- Heterogeneity, as stated
- Extreme heterogeneity among studies
- Heterogeneity, as stated
- Low credibility of evidence due to high heterogeneity and inconsistent results
meta-analysis · 2023
Siah et al. (2023) — The effects of forest bathing on psychological well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- What it measured
- Anxiety, Depression, Mood, Quality of Life.
- How it measured it
- Validated instruments such as Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Profile of Mood States, General Health Questionnaire.
- Its conclusion, in its own words
- “Our meta-analysis suggested that forest bathing can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.”
- How it was read
- read in full text
- What the review says it includes
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of 36 studies
- Studies and participants, as stated
- N=3554 participants across 36 studies
meta-analysis · 2024
Fan et al. (2024) — The effect of exposure to natural sounds on stress reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- What it measured
- Stress reduction (heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, MAP, perceived stress, SPO2)
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
systematic review · 2020
Browning et al. (2020) — The Role of Methodological Choices in the Effects of Experimental Exposure to Simulated Natural Landscapes on Human Health and Cognitive Performance: A Systematic Review
- What it measured
- Human health and cognitive performance; methodological moderators of study findings
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
- What the review says it includes
- Systematic review (of experiments)
- Studies and participants, as stated
- 175 experiments in 148 research articles
Key sources (12)
Every source below is shown with its study design and links to the original study. This is the audit trail.
meta-analysisEffects of natural sound exposure on health recovery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
meta-analysisWhat is the best dose of nature and green exercise for improving mental health? A multi-study analysis.
crossover trialEvaluating the Benefits of Green Exercise: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Natural and Built Environments Assessed for their Restorative Properties.
randomised controlled trialThe Urban Built Environment, Walking and Mental Health Outcomes Among Older Adults: A Pilot Study
randomised controlled trialDoes a natural environment enhance the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)? Examining the mental health and wellbeing, and nature connectedness benefits
randomised controlled trialNoticing nature: The role of environmental awareness in promoting well‐being
meta-analysisEffects of green exercise on mental health in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
randomised controlled trialWalks4Work: assessing the role of the natural environment in a workplace physical activity intervention.
meta-analysisImpact of Exposure to Natural and Built Environments on Positive and Negative Affect: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
meta-analysisThe effects of forest bathing on psychological well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
meta-analysisThe effect of exposure to natural sounds on stress reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
systematic reviewThe Role of Methodological Choices in the Effects of Experimental Exposure to Simulated Natural Landscapes on Human Health and Cognitive Performance: A Systematic Review
“Abstract only” means the review read that paper’s abstract, not its full text; “screened only” means it was included at re-screening and not extracted. Both stay in the trail with their DOI, because how a source was read is part of the audit.
Explore all 401 studies in Environmental →
The full evidence base this focus area draws on, every study with its design and DOI.What it is for
Feel better day to dayFeel less stressedMove more in everyday lifeSpend more time in nature