Health Benefits of Nature

The idea that spending time in nature can make you feel better is intuitive. We all feel this to be true, and many of us have anecdotes of our own or from friends or family that support that idea. People who have been suffering from stress, sickness, or a trauma can spend quiet contemplative time in gardens or taken to the mountains or woods to heal. But nature is not just wilderness. The benefits of nature can also be found in our communities’ parks and green spaces.

Researchers are amassing a body of evidence, proving what we all know to be true: nature is good for us and has both long and short term mental and physical health benefits.

Below you’ll find hundreds of free research studies, news articles, and case studies, organized by adult and children health topics:

Adults

Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Asthma & Respiratory Disorders
Cognition
Depression
General Health
Heart Health
Hospital Recovery
Obesity
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Stress
Stroke
Type II Diabetes
Well-Being  

Children

ADD/ADHD
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Cognition
Depression
General Health
Nature Deficit Disorder
Obesity
Stress
Type II Diabetes
Well-Being  

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A special thanks to our expert reviewers for their guidance: Dr. Ming (Frances) Kuo, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Naomi Sachs, ASLA, Founding Director, Therapeutic Landscapes Network and Naomi Sachs Design; Jerry Smith , FASLA, Principal, Smith GreenHealth Consulting.

This guide was written by Heidi Petersen, Matt Busa, and Jared Green.  

This guide is a living resource so we invite you to submit research studies, news articles, and case studies you’d like to see included. Please e-mail them to ASLA at [email protected]