Outlook: Newsletter of the Society of Behavorial Medicine

Spring 2026

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How Nature Is Good for You and How You Can Be Good for Nature Too

Dahlia Stott, PhD; Jean C. Bikomeye, PhD, MPH; Jennifer Gay, PhD; Jay Maddock, PhD; Maiya G. Block Ngaybe, PhD; Gina M. Besenyi, PhD; Jacob Szeszulski, PhD; Kevin Lanza, PhD - Climate Change & Health SIG

There is a robust and growing body of evidence demonstrating the health benefits of living in close proximity to and engaging with nature. People who spend more time in nature report improved mood; greater happiness; decreases in depression, anxiety, and stress; greater self-rated health; and have lower blood pressure and heart rate.1,2 Large-scale epidemiological studies, utilizing national datasets (e.g., SEER-Medicare, the UK Biobank, and large hospital electronic medical records), have consistently shown that, even in urban areas, individuals residing in neighborhoods with greater tree canopy coverage have better health outcomes, including those related to mental health, cardiovascular health, and cancer survival.3–5 Furthermore, people who spend time in nature engage in more physical activity, have better sleep quality, and make healthier dietary choices.2,6 

It is important to note that different types of natural environments provide different benefits to our health. Green spaces have the most benefits for our health, such as reducing stress, improving mental health, and lowering BMI, especially among urban populations.7 Blue spaces, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans, have been shown to have similar benefits for mental health and social health, though appear to demonstrate mixed findings for physical health outcomes.8 Other natural open spaces that are more dominated by rocks and minerals, such as desert environments or caves, as well as snowy alpine environments, have mixed findings of their positive impacts on our health, but may improve our capacity to focus.9

The impact of nature on human health need not be a one-way street. Along with benefiting human health, spending time in nature may inspire humans to improve planetary health. Several studies have shown that increasing nature contact can lead to increased levels of nature connectedness.10 This emotional connection to the natural world has been linked to pro-environmental behaviors, including recycling, and sustainable dietary intake, and reduced carbon footprints.6,10–12

Sustaining natural spaces can also be a part of health-enhancing behaviors. In addition to active transportation, planting trees and plants are forms of physical activity. Strategically planting can mitigate heat, air pollution, energy usage and sequester carbon.13 Additionally, taking the stairs instead of the elevator (exercise combined with lowering electricity consumption), picking up litter (functional fitness while removing plastics and ecosystem health), and selecting sustainably and locally-sourced foods (nutrition and ecosystem health) all have benefits for planetary and human. The reciprocal relationship between nature exposure and human health creates opportunities to reduce inequities as greater nature exposure not only improves individual health but can increase socio-spatial equity and social cohesion.14,15

Want to get outside and learn about the benefits of nature during SBM’s annual meeting in Chicago? The Climate Change and Health, Physical Activity, and Evidence-Based Behavioral Medicine SIGs are hosting a preconference workshop where you can join a guided nature experience in Grant Park, learn the NatureRX framework, and be trained to give nature prescriptions. Participants will leave being able to describe the core components of NatureRX programs, apply evidence-based counseling skills, and identify opportunities to integrate nature-based activity promotion into their own work. 

Sign up for the Nature as Medicine: Evidence-Based NatureRX for Physical Activity Promotion and Climate Resilience preconference workshop when you register for the annual meeting.

References:

  1. Bikomeye JC, Balza JS, Kwarteng JL, Beyer AM, Beyer KMM. The impact of greenspace or nature-based interventions on cardiovascular health or cancer-related outcomes: A systematic review of experimental studies. PLOS ONE. 2022;17(11):e0276517. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0276517
  2. Stott D, Forde D, Sharma C, et al. Interactions with Nature, Good for the Mind and Body: A Narrative Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024;21(3):3. doi:10.3390/ijerph21030329
  3. Xu J, Liu N, Polemiti E, et al. Effects of urban living environments on mental health in adults. Nat Med. 2023;29(6):1456-1467. doi:10.1038/s41591-023-02365-w
  4. Bikomeye JC, Tarima S, Zhou Y, et al. Effects of urban greenspace on time to major adverse cardiovascular events among women with breast cancer in the US: Insights from the Greater Milwaukee, WI Area. Health & Place. 2025;93:103460. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2025.103460
  5. Bikomeye JC, McGinley EL, Zhou Y, et al. Greenspace and Survival Among Older Women With Breast Cancer: Regional Variations Within the U.S. SEER-Medicare-Linked Database. JACC: Advances. 2025;4(9):102069. doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.102069
  6. Stott D, Bruneau M, Deutsch JM, et al. The connections among interactions with nature, diet quality, and sustainable eating: Insights from a mixed methods study. Social Science & Medicine. 2026;393:119014. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119014
  7. Markevych I, Schoierer J, Hartig T, et al. Exploring pathways linking greenspace to health: Theoretical and methodological guidance. Environmental Research. 2017;158:301-317. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2017.06.028
  8. Britton E, Kindermann G, Domegan C, Carlin C. Blue care: a systematic review of blue space interventions for health and wellbeing. Health Promot Int. 2020;35(1):50-69. doi:10.1093/heapro/day103
  9. Li H, Browning MHEM, Rigolon A, et al. Beyond “bluespace” and “greenspace”: A narrative review of possible health benefits from exposure to other natural landscapes. Science of The Total Environment. 2023;856:159292. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159292
  10. Liu Y, Cleary A, Fielding KS, Murray Z, Roiko A. Nature connection, pro-environmental behaviours and wellbeing: Understanding the mediating role of nature contact. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2022;228:104550. doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104550
  11. Mayer FS, Frantz CM. The connectedness to nature scale: A measure of individuals’ feeling in community with nature. J Environ Psychol. 2004;24(4):503-515. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2004.10.001
  12. Guazzini A, Valdrighi G, Fiorenza M, Duradoni M. The Relationship Between Connectedness to Nature and Pro-Environmental Behaviors: A Systematic Review. Sustainability. 2025;17(8):3686. doi:10.3390/su17083686
  13. Nowak DJ, Greenfield EJ. US Urban Forest Statistics, Values, and Projections. Journal of Forestry 116(2): 164-177. 2018;116:164-177. doi:10.1093/jofore/fvx004
  14. Bikomeye JC, Namin S, Anyanwu C, et al. Resilience and Equity in a Time of Crises: Investing in Public Urban Greenspace Is Now More Essential Than Ever in the US and Beyond. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(16):8420. doi:10.3390/ijerph18168420
  15. Babí Almenar J, Elliot T, Rugani B, et al. Nexus between nature-based solutions, ecosystem services and urban challenges. Land Use Policy. 2021;100:104898. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104898