"Many authors have proposed that social stress processing in the urban environment underlies the greater risk for mental illness."
"Urban upbringing was associated with reduced connectivity, whereas current urbanicity had no effect, supporting an effect of early urban exposure on this regulatory circuit."
"Beyond mental illness, our data are of general interest in showing a link between cities and social stress sensitivity."
http://www.nature.com.ezproxy.massey.ac.nz/nature/journal/v474/n7352/pdf/nature10190.pdf
"Natural areas have a special role in large cities"
http://sfrc.ufl.edu/urbanforestry/Resources/PDF%20downloads/Talbot_1984.pdf
"Time spent in contact with the natural environment has been associated with better psychological well-being, superior cognitive functioning, fewer physical ailments, and speedier recovery from illness."
http://eab.sagepub.com.ezproxy.massey.ac.nz/content/35/3/311.full.pdf+html
"In this article, we explore the relationships between leisure and stress reduction. Of particular interest is the stress-reducing potential of recreating near nature. In these pragmatic times, one of the arguments for using public dollars to support outdoor recreation opportunities is that these opportunities provide public benefit. Stress management or stress restoration is a potential benefit of leisure."
"This ability of leisure to provide physical and mental relaxation and thereby restore and compensate for the stress and angst of work is a long-standing hypothesis of leisure studies."
"Cultural explanations for why nature causes stress reduction suggest that people learn to associate positive meanings and feelings with nature such as memories of past positive experiences (e.g., recreation), symbols of health and endurance, and personal reminders of family and friends. Encounters with nature, therefore, evoke good feelings, trigger positive thoughts, and consequently restore the individual to a positive mental state. Evolutionary explanations for why nature causes stress reduction suggest that humans are conditioned by evolutionary pressures to respond positively to natural elements that enhance prospects of survival. These theories suggest that evolution "taught" humans to feel good about approaching or lingering near life-supporting landscape elements. Therefore, whenever these elements are encountered, whether or not one's survival is in doubt, one experiences positive feelings and stress restoration."
"Stress is generally characterized by negatively toned emotions such as fear, tension, and anxiety and by the absence of positively toned emotions such as pleasure and calmness"
http://www.tandfonline.com.ezproxy.massey.ac.nz/doi/pdf/10.1080/01490409509513239
"Research reveals that environments can increase or reduce our stress, which in turn impacts our bodies. What you are seeing, hearing, experiencing at any moment is changing not only your mood, but how your nervous, endocrine, and immune systems are working."
"And regardless of age or culture, humans find nature pleasing."
"Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones."
"In addition, nature helps us cope with pain. Because we are genetically programmed to find trees, plants, water, and other nature elements engrossing, we are absorbed by nature scenes and distracted from our pain and discomfort."
"In one study in Mind, 95% of those interviewed said their mood improved after spending time outside, changing from depressed, stressed, and anxious to more calm and balanced."
"This also provides a respite for our overactive minds, refreshing us for new tasks."
http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/environment/nature-and-us/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing
"Humans crave a connection with nature. From gardening and horticulture to taking a stroll through the park or hiking through the mountains, man has found solace in nature for centuries."
"More than 100 research studies have shown that outdoor recreation reduces stress. In a study of individuals exposed to stressful videos of accidents, those who watched a subsequent nature video experienced faster recovery than those who watched a video with other content. Another study established that a view of nature, even through a window, speeds recovery from surgery, improves work performance, and increases job satisfaction."
"Being in nature also bestows a sense of connectedness, meaning, and purpose. There is a sense of chaotic order in the way nature works; the plants and animals are interconnected in a series of complex relationships. Everything coexists in nature without the necessity of outside intervention. It is a system that has existed successfully since the beginning of time, which provides a sense of structure, coherence, and reliability for those wise enough to use nature as a model for life. Realizing that human beings are an essential component of this larger structure can supply a sense of purpose and belonging."
"For many, respect and enjoyment of nature also leads to a sense of spirituality and an appreciation for powers larger than oneself. The wilderness teaches that each individual is unique but also part of the larger whole. In a world bogged down by social pressures, standards of conduct, and the demands of others, nature gives people a chance to appreciate a grander sense that the world is alive, fascinating and meaningful."
"Spending time in nature’s silence better acquaints people with their own thoughts and feelings, leading to a sense of calm and inner peace."
http://www.crchealth.com/find-a-treatment-center/struggling-youth-programs/help/nature-is-therapeutic/
"It seems that, contrary to what was originally boasted about the open office, they actually hinder mental performance by increasing stress and negative health issues."
"It confirms that insufficient privacy in the workplace is an issue throughout the world. The survey results show that being able to concentrate, work in teams without being interrupted or choose where to work based on the task are frequently unmet needs."
"For example, a car horn instantly puts us on alert, distracting us from what we are doing, drawing our attention to it. Something less alarming, like the constant drone or rattle of an air conditioner, can be very annoying, causing stress or frustration when you have to work in the same room."
https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/10/increase-workflow-reduce-stress-with-nature-sounds/
"Taking a break may or may not help deal with stress during high-pressure times. What’s crucial is the type of break taken: According to The Wall Street Journal, taking a stroll in the park 'could do wonders' while drinking lots of coffee will just be further depleting."
"Even just looking at photos of nature in a quiet room has a greater cognitive boost than walking down a busy urban street."
"You may actually not even have to enjoy the park, botanical garden, or arboretum to get the benefit. Dr. Berman said: 'You don’t necessarily have to enjoy the walk to get the benefit. What you like is not necessarily going to be good for you.' For them, just looking at images of nature engages “our so-called involuntary attention, which comes into play when our minds are inadvertently drawn to something interesting that doesn’t require intense focus, like a pleasing picture or landscape feature. We can still talk and think while noticing the element.” In contrast, walking down a busy street is exhausting over long periods because we are on the look out for cars and bicyclists, and people bumping into us."
"A quieter city street with interesting natural elements to look at, such as containers of plants, could do the trick, too."
https://dirt.asla.org/2011/09/08/research-shows-nature-helps-with-stress/
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