Can Birdsong And Forests Reduce Stress?

A new study published in the Journal of Environmental Conservation looked at the effects of restored forests and birdsong in promoting psychological well-being.

“We wanted to determine whether exposure to birdsong and forests reduces stress, promotes positive emotions, and promotes restorativeness,” study author Nils Peterson told us. “We hypothesized birdsong and time in forests would cause positive changes in wellbeing.”

The study engaged 106 participants at NC State University in a 2×2 experiment to assess the impacts of soundscape (traffic noise vs. birdsong) and time in restored riparian forest (compared to grey space).

“We chose this topic because spending time listening to birds and spending time in forested areas is something almost everyone can do, at almost any time, and do with little or no cost,” Peterson told us.

In the United States, there are approximately 5.5 billion urban trees. According to the US Forest Service, cities are losing 36 million trees each year which translates into 175,000 acres. 

The researchers found that forests and the sounds of birdsong improved restorativeness, lowered stress and caused an overall better emotional state for participants. Urban gray spaces and the sounds of traffic had the inverse effect, leading to higher stress and lower restorativeness. Results were mixed when sounds and sights were mismatched. 

Peterson was surprised that the positive benefits were so strong, even in a restored natural area. 

“This study demonstrates that protecting and restoring urban forest areas can improve human well-being,” Peterson told us. “Similarly, it demonstrates listening to birdsong can provide mental health benefits to people even in areas where forests are not accessible. The research highlights the value of urban planning that reduces traffic noise.”

Categories: Anxiety , Depression , Modern Lifestyle | Tags: nature , mental health, depression