Also known as: forest bathing, shinrin-yoku, green time
Latest evidence update: 2026-03-17
Strongest in Consistency (92). Held back by Recency (51).
Solid mix of RCTs with some methodological gaps.
Good cross-study replication, some imprecision.
Tens of thousands of participants pooled across studies.
Studies agree on direction of effect.
Evidence base skews older; field may have moved on.
No per-outcome numbers yet for this one. Each finding's direction and strength is shown in the research below.
Areas where research points to a consistent direction of effect. The strength of evidence is graded; the size of the effect is not quantified.
Spending time in natural environments reduces cortisol, blood pressure, and mental fatigue.
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Higher frequency of visits to nature is associated with improved mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mental fatigue interventions significantly improved reaction time in athletes with an effect size of -0.871 (p < 0.001).
Forest bathing significantly reduces symptoms of depression.
Exposure to nature has a larger significant positive effect on neurophysiological outcomes compared to psychological outcomes.
Nature exposure reduces depressive symptoms in adults with symptoms of mental illness.