Home Wellbeing – How Does Nature Influence Mental Health?

Urbanization and Its Impact on Mental Health

More than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, and sociologists say that by 2050 this proportion will be 70%. Although the causal link has not been fully elucidated, urbanization is associated with an increased incidence of mental illness.

It seems that life in an urban area is associated with more types of Stress, whether it's noise, an increase in superficial social interactions at the expense of quality socialization, or traffic, which increases anxiety.

Urban Stress and Depression

According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization, more than 320 million people worldwide suffer from depression. In Romania, approximately 5% of the population is affected by some form of depressive disorder. It is important to note that these figures include only officially diagnosed cases.

Study on the Effects of Nature on Rumination

Through a controlled experiment, researchers from the United States and Sweden attempted to determine if an experience spent in nature can influence rumination – that repetitive, sometimes even obsessive, thinking focused on negative aspects, which represents a known warning sign in the onset of numerous mental health conditions.

The experiment involved 38 urban-dwelling individuals with no history of mental disorders who were divided into two groups and asked to go for a walk.

One group walked for 90 minutes through a beautiful natural area rich in vegetation near the Stanford campus, while the second group walked along a very busy road in downtown Palo Alto, California.

Participants responded to a questionnaire designed to measure their tendency towards rumination both before and after the walk. Depression. Additionally, both before and after the walk, all participants underwent imaging investigations through which their brains were examined.

The experiment coordinators specifically studied a region of the brain called the subgenual prefrontal cortex, an area that has been shown to be particularly active during rumination.

Study Results

The result was that individuals who walked for 90 minutes in a harmonious natural setting showed a decrease in rumination tendencies, with their questionnaire responses differing after the walk.

And a significant change was observed in brain activity, specifically a decrease in activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, a region of interest for researchers.

Also, in addition to reducing ruminative thoughts, anxiety states, and Depression, it was found that a walk through forest can reduce hormone levels Stress and blood sugar.

It's no wonder that many people want to escape crowded city areas, in an effort to reduce stress and risk factors regarding their mental health.

Home Wellbeing – A New Growing Concept

Slowly – slowly a new concept – that of home wellbeing – are increasingly gained popularity among urban dwellers, who are becoming more and more aware that their living environment overwhelmingly affects their physical and mental health.

In other words, people are gravitating towards those types of homes that offer proximity to nature, as well as other important aspects that bring balance and comfort.

Advantages of Living in GREENFIELD Băneasa

A terrace with a view towards forest it can be a genuine source of relaxation after an exhausting day at the office, and the proximity of the forest offers a multitude of possibilities for outdoor sports.

The residents of GREENFIELD Băneasa are privileged in this regard, as the neighborhood is located on the edge forests Băneasa and Tunari, and a walk in the forest can truly restore mental balance faster than we imagine.

Moreover, in addition to the 900 hectares of forest GREENFIELD Băneasa residents have 2 private parks and numerous green spaces at their disposal, where they can walk peacefully to recharge their batteries.

Mental Health Maintenance Resources

Ultimately, the biggest problem when it comes to maintaining good mental health is not represented by the factors Stress, and of the resources we have at our disposal to deal with them.

At GREENFIELD Băneasa you will find apartments with 2, 3, or 4 rooms very close to forest so that an active and healthy lifestyle is within everyone's reach.

If you also dream of regaining your inner balance and adopting a lifestyle that supports those habits that maintain our mental and physical health, pay a visit to Greenfield neighborhood and find out if it's the right place for you to live.