Landscape Architecture and Mental Health
Experiencing and connecting with nature has incredible cognitive and emotional health benefits. This “nature” includes public green spaces, tiny gardens and window boxes, vast wilderness, and even images of natural environments. A 2021 NRPA poll shows which generations and regions spend the most time in nature, and almost 20% of respondents spent less than 10 minutes outdoors each day.
Nature has been shown to increase happiness and positivity, increase a sense of purpose (Bratman et. al, 2019), reduce stress levels and regulate the sympathetic nervous system, and provide opportunities for physical movement and health. Many studies have explored measurable improvements in hospital patients who have natural views or time outdoors, others have studied children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Kuo & Taylor, 2004), and still others have explored natural settings for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Bettmann, et. al, 2022c). A nature experience has also been shown to benefit memory and attention, imagination, and creativity.
Even small amounts of being outside can have an impact. While being outside 20-90 minutes a day consistently over several weeks has the most impact on mental health and cognitive function, smaller amounts of nature are still beneficial (Coventry et. al, 2021). This can be as simple as listening to birds chirping (Van Hedger et al, 2018), looking out the window into a green space, or smelling flowers. Students who have a view outdoors have performed better than students viewing concrete (Lee et. al, 2015).
Nature reduces stress and improves working memory and cognitive function (Schertz & Bergman, 2011).
1. Attention-restoration theory claims that a fascinating environment or activity using involuntary attention can restore mental capacity and directed attention (Stephen Kaplan). In essence, being interested in where you are or what you are doing replenishes your directed attention capacity. (Kaplan, 1995). Perceptual-fluency theory takes this one step further and claims that natural environments have an innate fractalness that is easier to process, therefore increasing predictability while having a balance of complexity and legibility. This then restores attention capacity and reduces stress (Joye & van den Berg, 2011). This theory has provided the basis for some therapeutic models
2. Stress-reduction theory claims that a natural environment is non-threatening and allows a person to emotionally move from a stressed to an unstressed state. This is often referenced as biophilia and the universal connectedness we have with nature. (Ulrich, 1983).
3. Prospect-refuge theory claims that landscape with both a clear field of view (prospect) and places to hide if needed (refuge) provide the highest cognitive restoration (Appleton, 1995).
Landscape architecture is one of several tools to increase access to nature in both urban and rural areas. Unfortunately, many areas have limited access to high-quality nature. In an urban setting, landscape architecture is evident in parks, open spaces, streetscapes, and green infrastructure. In more rural settings, it can include improving accessibility – think barrier-free trails to view a waterfall in a state park, or long multi-use trails between cities. In a corporate setting, it is designing outdoor respite for lunches and meetings or simply framing natural views from within an office. In every space, there is an opportunity to bring in more life.