What is the Best Dose of Nature and Green Exercise for Improving Mental Health? A Multi-Study Analysis
2010/03/25 by Jo Barton, Jules Pretty · 1,580 citations
Environmental Science · Health Professions · Medicine · Psychology · #Affect (linguistics) #Climate Change and Health Impacts #Clinical psychology #Demography #Medicine #Mental health #Mood #Noise Effects and Management #Psychiatry #Psychology #Self-esteem #Urban Green Space and Health
paper · doi:10.1021/es903183r
published in Environmental Science & Technology 44(10), 3947-3955 (American Chemical Society)
openalex publication_date 2010/03/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/27
Abstract
Green exercise is activity in the presence of nature. Evidence shows it leads to positive short and long-term health outcomes. This multistudy analysis assessed the best regime of dose(s) of acute exposure to green exercise required to improve self-esteem and mood (indicators of mental health). The research used meta-analysis methodology to analyze 10 UK studies involving 1252 participants. Outcomes were identified through a priori subgroup analyses, and dose-responses were assessed for exercise intensity and exposure duration. Other subgroup analyses included gender, age group, starting health status, and type of habitat. The overall effect size for improved self-esteem was d = 0.46 (CI 0.34-0.59, p < 0.00001) and for mood d = 0.54 (CI 0.38-0.69, p < 0.00001). Dose responses for both intensity and duration showed large benefits from short engagements in green exercise, and then diminishing but still positive returns. Every green environment improved both self-esteem and mood; the presence of water generated greater effects. Both men and women had similar improvements in self-esteem after green exercise, though men showed a difference for mood. Age groups: for self-esteem, the greatest change was in the youngest, with diminishing effects with age; for mood, the least change was in the young and old. The mentally ill had one of the greatest self-esteem improvements. This study confirms that the environment provides an important health service.
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