Centers and Institutes
Published July 24, 2019 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective

Creators

  • 1. University of Washington
  • 2. Stanford University
  • 3. University of Chicago
  • 4. Willamette Partnership
  • 5. Wageningen University
  • 6. University of Bristol
  • 7. Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
  • 8. Uppsala University
  • 9. University of Illinois
  • 10. University of Heidelberg
  • 11. University of Glasgow
  • 12. Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • 13. University of Virginia
  • 14. The Nature Conservancy
  • 15. University of British Columbia
  • 16. University of Exeter

Description

A growing body of empirical evidence is revealing the value of nature experience for mental health. With rapid urbanization and declines in human contact with nature globally, crucial decisions must be made about how to preserve and enhance opportunities for nature experience. Here, we first provide points of consensus across the natural, social, and health sciences on the impacts of nature experience on cognitive functioning, emotional well-being, and other dimensions of mental health. We then show how ecosystem service assessments can be expanded to include mental health, and provide a heuristic, conceptual model for doing so.

Data availability

All data needed to evaluate the conclusions in the paper are present in the paper and/or the Supplementary Materials. Additional data related to this paper may be requested from the authors.

Files

sciadv.aax0903.pdf

Files (3.6 MB)

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Supplementary materials
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Article
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Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1126/sciadv.aax0903
Other
oai:uchicago.tind.io:10948

Funding

Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation

UChicago Information

Division(s)
Social Sciences Division
Department(s)
Psychology
Center(s) or Institute(s)
Grossman Center for Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior