The Psychology of Green Spaces: Why Nature Heals the Mind

Take a walk in the park, and you’ll likely feel better, calmer, clearer, maybe even a little happier. But why does this happen? What is it about green spaces like parks, forests, and gardens that seems to restore our mind and spirit? Recent psychological research has been digging into this question, and the answers are as fascinating as they are soothing. 

Nature and the Mind: The Roots of Existence 

Human beings have evolved in nature, not in cities. For most of our evolutionary history, we’ve lived close to trees, rivers, grasslands, and wildlife. Psychologist Edward O. Wilson called this our “biophilia,” an innate affinity for the natural world. It’s no surprise, then, that our minds and bodies respond positively to green environments and larger spaces with the essence of nature. 

Studies have demonstrated that even short contact with nature, like being in a garden or viewing photographs of forests, can reduce stress, enhance attention, and improve emotional well-being. Indeed, a seminal study by Kaplan & Kaplan (1989) put forward the Attention Restoration Theory, which proposes that nature replenishes our dwindling mental resources. When you’re feeling mentally exhausted, nature serves as a form of “soft fascination”—a soothing attention environment that allows your brain to relax and recharge. 

According to Assistant Professor Dr Balbinder Singh, spending time in green spaces like parks or forests just feels good because humans are naturally wired to connect with nature. The biophilia hypothesis explains our hardwired affinity for natural environments, which inherently reduces stress, improves mood, and enhances feelings of restoration. So, being around trees and plants lowers stress and lifts your mood almost instantly. There’s also science behind it: plants release natural chemicals (called as phytoncides) into the air (think of them as tiny invisible health boosters). Breathing these in while walking through a forest or sitting in a garden actually calms your nervous system, lowers stress hormones (like cortisol), boosts, sharpens your focus, and helps your mind reset. It’s like nature giving your brain a gentle, refreshing tune-up.

Green Spaces and Mental Well-being 

Being in green spaces is associated with a range of mental health advantages. Below are just a few of the findings from the research:

• Low anxiety and depression: A large UK study (White et al., 2013) discovered that residents living closer to more green space experienced less mental distress and greater well-being.
• Reduced cortisol (stress hormone) levels: Exposure to nature has been known to physiologically alleviate stress by decreasing cortisol (Park et al., 2010). 
• Enhanced mood and self-esteem: A mere five minutes of “green exercise” (such as walking or cycling in the outdoors) can considerably enhance mood (Pretty et al., 2005). 

More intriguing is that these advantages are observed among people of all ages, ranging from children with ADHD to older adults under threat of cognitive impairments. 

Urban Design Meets Psychology 

Cities are usually linked with noise, congestion, and overstimulation, factors that can lead to mental exhaustion and even psychological issues. Urban designers and psychologists now recommend integrating parks as a key public health strategy. Adding urban green spaces, such as rooftop gardens, green belts, and tree-lined streets, has been proven to increase community cohesiveness, decrease crime, and promote exercise. Even a Toronto study (Kardan et al., 2015) discovered that having 10 more trees on your street could make you feel as healthy as being 7 years younger! 

Ecotherapy: Nature as a Therapeutic Tool 

In clinical psychology, the idea of ecotherapy (or nature therapy) is becoming trendy. From formal “forest bathing” sessions (a Japanese tradition known as Shinrin-yoku) to horticultural therapy, all of this is now being employed to help patients with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and even addiction. Dr. Miles Richardson, who studies the connection between people and nature, maintains that it’s not so much that being in nature does the good thing—it’s that we feel connected to it. That is, mere meandering through a park while scrolling through your phone might not have the same effect as being fully immersed in the scenery, noises, and aromas around you. 

According to Child Psychologist & therapist Mannat Kunra, I’ve often observed how a simple walk in a park can turn a heavy-hearted conversation into a moment of clarity and calm. This human connection to green spaces is not just poetic; it’s powerfully therapeutic. Green spaces, whether lush city parks or quiet gardens, play an essential role in mental health interventions. Research consistently shows that access to and engagement with green environments are associated with reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, lower levels of stress hormones, and improved overall well-being.

For example, individuals living in greener cities such as Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh experience less mental distress and greater life satisfaction, with these benefits persisting for years after moving to such environments. However, the benefits of green spaces extend beyond emotional relief. Scientifically, being in natural environments increases oxygen supply to the brain, which is essential for optimal neuronal activity and cognitive functioning. Elevated oxygen levels enhance the brain’s ability to process thoughts, improve attention, and boost overall cognitive functioning.

As a result, therapy sessions held in or near green spaces may allow clients to think more clearly, reflect on their feelings better, and engage more deeply in the therapeutic process. This “green oxygen effect” is not just theoretical—studies have shown that increased brain oxygenation directly supports cognitive resilience and sharper thinking, making therapeutic interventions more effective. In a world where urbanization and digital overload often distance us from nature, integrating green spaces into mental health care isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Whether through a mindful stroll, a therapy session under the trees, or simply pausing to breathe in a garden, these moments in nature offer a profound boost to mental health, providing cognitive clarity, and the healing journey itself. Moreover, the sensory richness of green spaces—natural light, fresh air, and organic sounds—helps regulate stress responses.This environment encourages relaxation and emotional openness, smoothing the path for therapeutic breakthroughs.

Feminist Perspectives: Women, Nature, and the Green Connection 

While psychology has ventured into the area of how green space affects mental well-being, feminist thinkers have given a strong new dimension to our relationship with nature, particularly from women’s and oppressed groups’ points of view. This school of thought is commonly known as ecofeminism. 

What is Ecofeminism? 

Ecofeminism is a school of feminist theory that recognises significant connections between the way societies harm the environment and the way they treat women. It grew out of the 1970s and 1980s as women organisers all over the globe, many from rural, Indigenous, and working-class communities, began to observe something significant: 

From Indian environmentalist Vandana Shiva to Kenyan Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, countless grassroots ecological movements have been led by women. These women weren’t merely saving trees, they were struggling for food security, clean water, community health, and the future of generations.

Women and the Care of Nature 

Most researchers contend that women’s proximity to nature is not merely a cultural truism—it’s also reflective of the way that society has constructed women’s roles and responsibilities. But ecofeminists counter that by assuming that it’s somehow “natural” or biologically based. Rather, they view it as something that has the potential to be empowering. 

Taking care of the Earth is a resistance act. It’s a means to take back agency in a world that tends to silence ecosystems as well as women.

Ecofeminist principle 

The Psychology of Connection: Nature, Identity, and Empowerment

A research study in Environment and Behaviour (2015) discovered that nature-based activities, including community gardening, park walking, or environmental activism, can lead to stress reduction, greater feelings of control, and a renewed connection with self. For survivors of trauma among women, nature therapy or ecotherapy provides an open space where one can heal, particularly when the usual clinical environment is too formal or impersonal. 

In this way, green spaces can become feminist spaces, not just for healing, but also for self-discovery and resistance. Green spaces are not merely havens of recreation—they’re havens of resistance, rebirth, and reconnection. Through psychology and feminist philosophy, we come to understand nature as more than a backdrop to our lives, but as a living companion in our emotional, social, and collective healing. In our time, when both psychic and climate emergencies are escalating, getting back in touch with the Earth could be one of the most revolutionary and healing things we can do. 

FAQs 

Q1: Why do green spaces improve our Mental and Emotional well-being?

Green spaces lower stress, lift mood, and dispel mental exhaustion. Exposure to nature also engages the parasympathetic nervous system—our body’s “rest and restore” function. The soothing views, sounds, and scents of trees, water, and open skies suppress cortisol and blood pressure. Mentally, nature relieves our minds from overload, making us feel less anxious, more concentrated, and emotionally regulated. A mere five to ten minutes spent in a park can be beneficial! 

Q2: Is there scientific evidence that green spaces improve mental health?

Yes, many. Research has demonstrated that individuals who reside close to green areas feel less anxiety, depression, and even loneliness. For instance, a study conducted in the UK revealed that individuals who spent time outdoors on at least a weekly basis enjoyed improved overall well-being and complained of fewer mental distress symptoms. Green spaces are also associated with improved attention, emotional control, and resilience, particularly in children, older persons, and city dwellers. 

Q3: What if I don’t have a park or forest nearby? Can I still take advantage of nature?

Absolutely. You don’t have to trek through the woods to reap the benefits of nature. Small, conscious connections with nature, such as having houseplants, raising a balcony garden, walking on tree-lined boulevards, or even viewing pictures of natural scenery, can have beneficial effects on your body and mind. The important thing is mindful engagement: stopping for a moment to appreciate the breeze, birdsong, or feel of a leaf. These “micro-moments” of nature can be very helpful in increasing mental well-being.