Do humans benefit more from growing up in a natural environment versus an urban setting?

From the Guidelines

Humans are generally better off growing up with exposure to both nature and city environments, though regular access to natural settings offers distinct advantages in terms of mental health, cognitive development, and physical activity. Growing up with exposure to nature has been linked to better mental health outcomes, reduced stress levels, and improved cognitive development, as noted in a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health 1. Children who regularly spend time in natural environments tend to show better attention spans, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Physiologically, time in nature is associated with lower blood pressure, reduced inflammation, and stronger immune function. Natural settings also provide opportunities for physical activity that differs from structured urban exercise, encouraging diverse movement patterns and motor skill development. Some key points to consider when evaluating the benefits of nature exposure include:

• The importance of early childhood exposure to nature, as highlighted in the study published in The Lancet Planetary Health 1, which suggests that environmental education in the preschool stage can be a meaningful experience for children’s development.
• The need for a balanced approach that incorporates both natural and urban environments, as cities offer important cultural, educational, and social opportunities that complement nature's benefits.
• The role of schools and communities in promoting healthy lifestyles and providing access to natural spaces, as discussed in the study published in Obesity Reviews 1, which emphasizes the importance of multilevel strategies that include policy and environmental changes. However, cities offer important cultural, educational, and social opportunities that complement nature's benefits. The ideal approach is to ensure children have regular access to parks, gardens, forests, or other natural spaces, even if they primarily live in urban environments, allowing them to experience the cognitive, emotional, and physical benefits of both settings throughout their development. Additional considerations include:
• The impact of urban design on physical activity levels and access to healthy food choices, as noted in the study published in Ca-A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 1, which highlights the importance of creating environments that make it easier for children to establish positive eating and physical activity habits early in life.
• The need for policy and environmental changes to support healthy lifestyles, such as increasing access to affordable, healthy foods and providing safe, enjoyable, and accessible environments for physical activity. Overall, the evidence suggests that a balanced approach that incorporates both natural and urban environments is essential for promoting healthy development and well-being in children.

From the Research

Comparison of Nature and City Environments

• Humans growing up exposed to nature may have improved cognitive function, brain activity, blood pressure, mental health, physical activity, and sleep compared to those exposed to city environments 2.
• Nature exposure has been shown to have a beneficial effect on mental health and well-being of children and adolescents, with evidence suggesting a positive association between nature exposure and increased levels of physical activity and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease 3.

Mental Health Benefits

• Interactions with nature in children and teenagers have been found to have mental health benefits, including reduced symptoms of attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity disorder and improved emotional well-being 4.
• Physical activity undertaken outdoors in natural environments has been shown to be more beneficial for psychological outcomes, such as anxiety, anger/hostility, energy, affect, and positive engagement, compared to urban environments 5.

Physical Health Benefits

• Exposure to natural environments has been found to have a synergistic benefit with physical activity, resulting in improved physical and mental health outcomes, including reduced blood pressure and improved self-esteem 6.
• Green exercise, which combines physical activity with exposure to nature, has been shown to have important public and environmental health consequences, with benefits including improved mental health and well-being 6.

Limitations and Future Directions

• Current knowledge on the association between nature exposure and health is limited by inconsistent measures of exposure to nature, the impacts of the type and quality of green space, and health effects of duration and frequency of exposure 2.
• Further research is needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the association between green space and health, advance exposure assessment, and evaluate sensitive periods in the early life-course 2, 3.