Providing and maintaining green spaces in city centers is important for helping city residents cope with daily stress. However, the ongoing process of urbanization and pressures on existing green spaces are threatening their very existence.
In modern urban societies, acute and chronic stress is a growing problem with long-term negative effects on health. Stress is linked not only to mental health issues such as burnout syndrome but also to diseases of the heart, digestive system, immune system, and nervous system. In Europe, musculoskeletal disorders rank first among the leading work-related health issues, followed by stress and anxiety.
Numerous studies conducted in Europe, North America, and Asia have reported that green spaces improve not only people’s mood but also their concentration and performance. Furthermore, it has been shown that even exposure to images of nature has positive effects on cognitive performance. A study conducted in Japan reported that visits to forested areas lower blood pressure and cortisol levels while suppressing sympathetic nervous system activity.
In Helsinki, the capital of Finland, the psychological and physiological effects of visits to city parks and urban forested areas were investigated. To demonstrate the stress-reducing effect of green environments, participants’ salivary cortisol concentrations were measured. It was found that visits to both parks and forested areas had similar positive effects and reduced stress.
As the process of urbanization continues rapidly, increasing the number and density of green spaces is of great importance. It is essential that policymakers understand the importance of green environments to reduce stress levels and protect future generations from chronic diseases in urban life.
References:
Europe in figures – Eurostat Yearbook, 2011. European Commission.
Lee J, Tyvainen L, Tsunetsugu Y et al. Nature therapy and preventive medicine. In J. Maddock Social and Behavioral Health, 2012, 325–350.
Tsunetsugu Y, Lee Y, Park B. Physiological and psychological effects of viewing urban forest landscapes assessed by multiple measurements. Landscape and Urban Planning, 2013, 113, 90–93.
Tyrvainen L, Ojala A, Korpela K et al. The influence of urban green environments on stress relief measures: A field experiment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2014, 38, 1–9.