Incorporating more nature into city design significantly improves youth mental health in urban environments, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Waterloo. The groundbreaking study suggests that activities like forest bathing, involving calm and quiet moments among trees while observing nature and deep breathing, can effectively reduce stress and enhance overall well-being in young individuals.
This study marks the first-ever collection of on-site, real-time survey data from adolescents, gauging their emotional responses to various urban environments such as transit hubs, residential streets, trails, parks, and waterways. The findings consistently revealed that natural urban spaces were linked to significantly higher scores in positive emotional outcomes.
As part of the University of Waterloo’s Future Cities Initiative, the research addresses the growing need to create healthy and prosperous urban futures for all. Notably, after spending just a few minutes observing an urban lake, youth scores on a validated anxiousness scale decreased by nine percent. Conversely, standing in a busy downtown location for the same duration resulted in a 13 percent increase in anxiousness scores, even after adjusting for various factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, mental health diagnosis, and social status.
Given the rapid pace of urbanization, understanding the impact of urban environments on youth mental health is crucial, particularly considering depression and anxiety rank among the leading causes of illness in adolescents. The study identified that nature motifs on buildings, natural sights like lakes and public activity parks, and landscape elements such as gardens and trees contribute to positive emotional experiences for youth. These urban characteristics, unique to adolescents, may be interpreted differently from adults engaging in other activities, such as walking or running in green spaces.
These findings offer clear evidence for planners, city builders, and healthcare providers to advocate for specific natural urban design features when creating cities with health and sustainability for all age groups. Dr. Minaker, one of the researchers, emphasized the importance of considering teens’ opinions in urban planning decisions, as childhood experiences significantly influence long-term health and disease outcomes.
The researchers plan to further explore the link between mental health data and its long-term economic and social impacts in future studies. Additionally, they aim to assess the mental and physical health of children living in high-rise apartment buildings, an area of research that remains poorly understood in North America.
