Effect of Nature Walks on Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review

Journal article


Yasuhiro Kotera, Melinda Lyons, Katia Correa Vione and Briony Norton 2021. Effect of Nature Walks on Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review. Sustainability. 13 (7), pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13074015
AuthorsYasuhiro Kotera, Melinda Lyons, Katia Correa Vione and Briony Norton
Abstract

The benefits of nature for our health have been an increasing research focus in recent years. In the context of a global increase in mental health diagnoses, the potential health benefits of nature have attracted attention. One practical nature treatment is to walk in nature. However, evidence for this practice on mental health has not been comprehensively appraised to date. This systematic review synthesized the effects of nature walks for depression and anxiety, and evaluated the methodological rigor of studies. Academic databases including ProQuest, PsycINFO, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were utilized to identify eligible articles, which were examined using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Of 385 articles initially retrieved, 12 studies met all the eligibility criteria (nine pre-post within-subject studies, two quasi-experimental studies, and one experimental between-subjects study). These studies demonstrated that nature walks were effective for state anxiety but not generalized anxiety and the effects for depression were inconsistent. Findings indicate that nature walks may be effective for mental health, especially for reducing state anxiety. However, the quality of the included studies varied, and sample sizes were small, suggesting a need for more rigorous and large-scale research.

Keywordsnature walk ; state anxiety; systematic review
Year2021
JournalSustainability
Journal citation13 (7), pp. 1-17
PublisherMDPI
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3390/su13074015
Web address (URL)https://doi.org/10.3390/su13074015
Output statusPublished
Publication dates04 Apr 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted02 Apr 2021
Deposited15 Aug 2022
Permalink -

https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/982vz/effect-of-nature-walks-on-depression-and-anxiety-a-systematic-review

  • 113
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Examining flight time, cognitive reflection, workload, stress and metacognition on decision making performance for pilots during flight simulation
Mohan, A., Simonovic, B., Correa Vione, K. and Stupple, E. 2024. Examining flight time, cognitive reflection, workload, stress and metacognition on decision making performance for pilots during flight simulation. Ergonomics. pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2024.2404642
Effective leadership practice among senior leaders working from home and in the hybrid workplace across COVID-19
Barnes, K., Correa Vione, K. and Kotera, Y. 2024. Effective leadership practice among senior leaders working from home and in the hybrid workplace across COVID-19. SN Business & Economics . 4 (55), pp. 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43546-024-00651-4
Dispositional greed and life satisfaction: the role of social comparison for well-being
Barnes, K., Correa Vione, K. and Kotera, Y. 2024. Dispositional greed and life satisfaction: the role of social comparison for well-being. SN Business and Economics . pp. 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43546-024-00651-4
Pathways to online infidelity: the roles of perceived online dating success, perceived availability of alternative partners, and mate value discrepancy
Nascimento, B.S., Adair, L. and Vione, K.C. 2023. Pathways to online infidelity: the roles of perceived online dating success, perceived availability of alternative partners, and mate value discrepancy. Current Psychology. pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05345-y
Síndrome do impostor, autoeficácia e apoio social em mães de primeira viagem do Reino Unido
Fergusson, G. and Correa Vione, K. 2023. Síndrome do impostor, autoeficácia e apoio social em mães de primeira viagem do Reino Unido . in: Guerra, V.M., Nascimento, A.S. and Duarte, C.N.B. (ed.) Gestação e maternidade: A visão da psicologia Espirito Santo, Brazil EDUFES . pp. 205-220
It is not what you think it is how you think: a critical thinking intervention enhances argumentation, analytic thinking and metacognitive sensitivity
Simonovic, B., Katia Vione, Edward Stupple and Doherty, A. 2023. It is not what you think it is how you think: a critical thinking intervention enhances argumentation, analytic thinking and metacognitive sensitivity. Thinking Skills and Creativity. 49, pp. 1-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2023.101362
Biodiversity and environmental stressors along urban walking routes
Norton, B., Mears, M., Warren, P. H., Siriwardena, G. M., Plummer, K. E., Turner, T., Hancock, S., Grafius, D. R. and Evans, K. L. 2023. Biodiversity and environmental stressors along urban walking routes. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 85, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org//10.1016/j.ufug.2023.127951
Bad Parents? Evaluating Judgments of Infant Homicides
Brandon Sparks, Katia Vione and Dean Fido 2023. Bad Parents? Evaluating Judgments of Infant Homicides. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. pp. 1-23.
The Role of Future Time Perspective, Body Awareness, and Social Connectedness in the Relationship Between Self-efficacy and Resilience
O’Neill, Ellsy, Clarke, Philip, Fido, Dean and Vione, Katia Correa 2020. The Role of Future Time Perspective, Body Awareness, and Social Connectedness in the Relationship Between Self-efficacy and Resilience. Mental Health Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00434-6
Design and Manufacture of One-Size-Fits-All Healthcare Face Shields for the NHS During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Gunputh, U., Williams, G., Leighton, A., Carter, W., Varasteh, H., Pawlik, M., Lu, Y., Sims, R., Lyons, M., Clementson, J., Tripathi, G., Nick Chambers, Matt Roe and Wood, P. 2022. Design and Manufacture of One-Size-Fits-All Healthcare Face Shields for the NHS During the COVID-19 Pandemic. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4258668
Psychological Risk Factors for Depression in the UK General Population: Derailment, Self-Criticism and Self-Reassurance
Colman, R., Vione, K.C. and Kotera, Y. 2022. Psychological Risk Factors for Depression in the UK General Population: Derailment, Self-Criticism and Self-Reassurance. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2022.2110214
Definitions of biodiversity from urban gardeners
Norton, Briony, A., Shang, Bowen, Sheffield, David and Ramsey, Andrew 2021. Definitions of biodiversity from urban gardeners. Journal of Urban Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jue/juab005
The relationship between readiness to change pain-related exercise participation and perceived work ability: a cross-sectional study of factory workers
Shawcross, P., Lyons, M. and Filingeri, V. 2021. The relationship between readiness to change pain-related exercise participation and perceived work ability: a cross-sectional study of factory workers. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 22 (762), pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04642-6
Escala Clance do Fenômeno do Impostor: Adaptação Brasileira
Thereza Christina Garcia Bezerra, Larisse Helena Gomes de Macêdo Barbosa, Katia Correa Vione, Rebecca Alves Aguiar Athayde and Valdiney Veloso Gouveia 2021. Escala Clance do Fenômeno do Impostor: Adaptação Brasileira. Psico-USF. 26 (2), pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-82712021260211
Preconceitos que se Cruzam: A Relação entre o Racismo, Sexismo e Valores
Ana Karolyne Florencio Amorim, Larisse Helena Gomes Macêdo Barbosa, Katia Correa Vione, Olívia Dayse Leite Ferreira, Tailson Evangelista Mariano and Francicléia Lopes Silva 2021. Preconceitos que se Cruzam: A Relação entre o Racismo, Sexismo e Valores. Psico-USF. 26 (2), pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-82712021260205
Mindfulness-Based Approaches for COVID-19 Mental Health in Working from Home
Katia C. Vione and Yasuhiro Kotera 2021. Mindfulness-Based Approaches for COVID-19 Mental Health in Working from Home. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00647-3
Estimating food production in an urban landscape
Grafius, Darren R., Edmondson, Jill L., Norton, Briony A., Clark, Rachel, Mears, Meghann, Leake, Jonathan R., Corstanje, Ron, Harris, Jim A. and Warren, Philip H. 2020. Estimating food production in an urban landscape. Scientific Reports. 10 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-62126-4
Green roof and ground-level invertebrate communities are similar and are driven by building height and landscape context
Dromgold, Jacinda R, Threlfall, Caragh G, Norton, Briony, A. and Williams, Nicholas S G 2020. Green roof and ground-level invertebrate communities are similar and are driven by building height and landscape context. Journal of Urban Ecology. 6 (1). https://doi.org/10.1093/jue/juz024
Urban meadows as an alternative to short mown grassland: effects of composition and height on biodiversity
Norton, Briony, A., Bending, Gary, D., Clark, Rachel, Corstanje, Ron, Dunnett, Nigel, Evans, Karl, L., Grafius, Darren, R., Gravestock, Emily, Grice, Samuel, M., Harris, Jim, A., Hilton, Sally, Lim, Edward, Mercer, Theresa, G., Pawlett, Mark, Prescott, Oliver, L., Richards, J. Paul, Southon, Georgina, E. and Warren, Philip, H. 2019. Urban meadows as an alternative to short mown grassland: effects of composition and height on biodiversity. Ecological Applications. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1946
Using GIS-linked Bayesian Belief Networks as a tool for modelling urban biodiversity.
Corstanje, Ron, Warren, Philip H., Evans, Karl L., Siriwardena, Gavin M., Pescott, Oliver L., Plummer, Kate E., Mears, Meghann, Zawadzka, Joanna, Richards, J. Paul, Harris, Jim A., Norton, Briony, A. and Darren R., Grafius 2019. Using GIS-linked Bayesian Belief Networks as a tool for modelling urban biodiversity. Landscape and Urban Planning. 189, pp. 382-395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2019.05.012
The effect of urban ground covers on arthropods: An experiment.
Norton, Briony, A., Thomson, Linda J., Williams, Nicholas S. G. and McDonnell, Mark J. 2013. The effect of urban ground covers on arthropods: An experiment. Urban Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-013-0297-0
Disturbance affects spatial patterning and stand structure of a tropical rainforest tree.
Webber, Bruce L., Norton, Briony, A. and Woodrow, Ian E. 2010. Disturbance affects spatial patterning and stand structure of a tropical rainforest tree. Austral Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2009.02054.x
Web-building spiders attract prey by storing decaying matter.
Bjorkman-Chiswell, Bojun T., Kulinski, Melissa M., Muscat, Robert L., Nguyen, Kim A., Norton, Briony, A., Symonds, Matthew R. E., Westhorpe, Gina E. and Elgar, Mark A. 2004. Web-building spiders attract prey by storing decaying matter. Naturwissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-004-0524-x
A global synthesis of plant extinction rates in urban areas.
Hahs, Amy K., McDonnell, Mark J., McCarthy, Michael A., Vesk, Peter A., Corlett, Richard T., Norton, Briony, A., Clemants, Steven E., Duncan, Richard P., Thompson, Ken, Schwartz, Mark W. and Williams, Nicholas S. G. 2009. A global synthesis of plant extinction rates in urban areas. Ecology Letters. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01372.x
Planning for cooler cities: A framework to prioritise green infrastructure to mitigate high temperatures in urban landscapes.
Norton, Briony, A., Coutts, Andrew M., Livesley, Stephen J., Harris, Richard J., Hunter, Annie M. and Williams, Nicholas S. G. 2014. Planning for cooler cities: A framework to prioritise green infrastructure to mitigate high temperatures in urban landscapes. Landscape and Urban Planning. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.10.018
A conceptual framework for predicting the effects of urban environments on floras.
Williams, Nicholas S. G., Schwartz, Mark W., Vesk, Peter A., McCarthy, Michael A., Hahs, Amy K., Clemants, Steven E., Corlett, Richard T., Duncan, Richard P., Norton, Briony, A., Thompson, Ken and McDonnell, Mark J. 2009. A conceptual framework for predicting the effects of urban environments on floras. Journal of Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2008.01460.x
Plant species or flower colour diversity? Identifying the drivers of public and invertebrate response to designed annual meadows.
Hoyle, Helen, Norton, Briony, A., Dunnett, Nigel, Richards, J. Paul, Russell, Jean M. and Warren, Philip H. 2018. Plant species or flower colour diversity? Identifying the drivers of public and invertebrate response to designed annual meadows. Landscape and Urban Planning. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.08.017
Flourishing Scale: Evidence of Its Suitability to the Brazilian Context
Correa Vione, K. 2015. Flourishing Scale: Evidence of Its Suitability to the Brazilian Context. Mykolas Romeris University. https://doi.org/10.13165/siiw-15-1-2-07
Decisional and emotional forgiveness scales: Psychometric validity and correlates with personality and vengeance
Cavalcanti, Thiago Medeiros, de Holanda Coelho, Gabriel Lins, Rezende, Alessandro Teixeira, C. Vione, Katia and Gouveia, Valdiney Veloso 2018. Decisional and emotional forgiveness scales: Psychometric validity and correlates with personality and vengeance. Applied Research in Quality of Life. 14, p. 1247–1264. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-018-9653-9
Cross-cultural differences and similarities in human value instantiation.
Hanel, Paul H. P., Maio, Gregory R., Soares, Ana K. S., C. Vione, Katia, de Holanda Coelho, Gabriel L., Gouveia, Valdiney V., Patil, Appasaheb C., Kamble, Shanmukh V. and Manstead, Antony S. R. 2018. Cross-cultural differences and similarities in human value instantiation. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00849
Ecological role of vertebrate scavengers in urban ecosystems in the UK
Inger, Richard, Cox, Daniel, T. C., Per, Esra, Norton, Briony, A. and Gaston, Kevin J. 2016. Ecological role of vertebrate scavengers in urban ecosystems in the UK. Ecology and Evolution.
Ophyiulus in Victoria: results of millipede surveys from south-eastern Australia
Norton, Briony, A., Thomson, Linda, J., Nash and Michael A. 2015. Ophyiulus in Victoria: results of millipede surveys from south-eastern Australia. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria.
Urban biodiversity and landscape ecology: Patterns, processes and planning
Norton, Briony, A., Evans, Karl L. and Warren, Philip H. 2016. Urban biodiversity and landscape ecology: Patterns, processes and planning. Current Landscape Ecology Reports.
Value Instantiations: The Missing Link Between Values and Behavior?
Hanel, P. H. P., Correa Vione, K., Hahn, U. and Maio, G, R. 2017. Value Instantiations: The Missing Link Between Values and Behavior? in: Roccas, S. and Sagiv, L. (ed.) Values and Behavior Taking a Cross Cultural Perspective New York Springer.
Do student samples provide an accurate estimate of the general public?
Hanel, Paul H. P. and C. Vione, Katia 2016. Do student samples provide an accurate estimate of the general public? PLos ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0168354
Guiding Actions and Expressing Needs: On the Psychological Functions of Values
Gouveia, Valdiney V., Milfont, Taciano L., Correa Vione, K. and Santos, Walberto S. Guiding Actions and Expressing Needs: On the Psychological Functions of Values. Psykhe (Santiago). 24 (2), pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.7764/psykhe.24.2.884
Patterns of value change during the life span
Gouveia, Valdiney V., C. Vione, Katia, Milfont, Taciano L. and Fischer, Ronald 2015. Patterns of value change during the life span. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 41 (9), pp. 1276-1290. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167215594189