Watching birds helps improve mental health and reduce psychological distress, according to a new study.
If you feel anxious or low in spirits, look at the birds. A new study from North Carolina State University shows that observing birds going about their lives is more effective than taking nature walks in improving well-being and reducing psychological distress.
This work was recently published in the June issue of the journal Environmental Psychology.
Well-being: watching birds reduces psychological distress
“Much research on well-being, conducted during the pandemic, suggests that adolescents and university students struggle the most”recalls Nils Peterson, corresponding author of the study in a communicated. In order to verify the effects of exposure to nature on the mental health of young people, the researcher and his team brought together 112 students from their campus.
One group had to observe birds for 30 min 5 times a week, another had to walk in nature at the same frequency while a third continued their normal activities to serve as a control group. Each participant took tests to measure their levels of well-being and psychological distress.
“While all three groups had improved their WHO-5 scores [indice de bien-être, NDLR]the birding group started lower and finished higher than the other two”, specify the authors in their press release. They also found that people who had experiences in nature – whether through bird watching or walking – showed a greater reduction in distress compared to the control group.
Mental health: an easy activity to set up
For researchers, bird watching presents a major advantage in the quest to improve mental health. This is an easily accessible activity, because these animals are present in non-rural areas. “Bird watching is one of the most common ways that humans interact with wildlife globally, and college campuses provide access to this activity even in more urban environments.”notes the expert.
His team assures that these results pave the way for future research. For example, scientists could examine why bird watching makes people feel better or determine potential moderating effects related to gender, race, or other factors.
