Spending at least two hours a week in nature could be a critical barrier to promoting health and wellness, according to a new large-scale study. The study showed that people who spend at least 120 minutes a week in nature are significantly more likely to report good health and higher psychological well-being than people who do not visit nature at all during an average week. However, such benefits were not found for people who visited natural environments such as city parks, forests, nature parks and beaches for less than 120 minutes per week.
The study used data from nearly 20,000 people in England and found it made no difference whether the 120 minutes were reached in a single visit or over several shorter visits. Also, the 120-minute threshold was established for both men and women, for older and younger adults, for different occupational and ethnic groups, for those living in both rich and poor areas, and even for people with long-term illnesses or disabilities. /P>
The researcher who led the study said:"It is well known that being outdoors in nature can be good for people's health and well-being, but so far we have not been able to say how much is enough. The majority of wildlife visits in this study took place within just two miles of home, so even visiting local urban green spaces seems to be a good thing. Hopefully two hours a week is a realistic target for a lot of people, especially given that it can be spread out over a whole week to get the advantage.”
Co-author of the study said:“There are many reasons why spending time in nature can be good for health and well-being, including gaining perspective on living conditions, reducing stress and enjoying quality time with friends and family. ”
