Having access to a park or green space usually encourages physical activity. And more morning jogs or lunch-break walks can help promote physical wellness.
But being outside in nature brings more to the table than just physical fitness. New research has found that access to green space during childhood can have a positive impact on mental health as an adult.
The numbers are staggering. The research concludes that “children surrounded by low amounts of green space in childhood have up to a 55% higher risk of developing a mental disorder – even after adjusting for other known risk factors such as socio-economic status, urbanization, and the family history of mental disorders.”