The health-promoting effect of experiencing nature has been researched for some time. Researchers from the German National Cohort (NAKO) have now investigated the influence that the biodiversity of birds can have on people’s mental health.
For the analysis, health data from the German National Cohort (NAKO), which was collected between 2015 and 2019, was combined with annual bird counts by the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU). Questioning methods from clinical practice were used to measure the mental health of NAKO participants.
“Previous studies have mostly used so-called cross-sectional data, i.e. results from data surveys that were only collected at one point in time. The special feature of our study is that we used so-called longitudinal data from repeated data collections to investigate the influence of biodiversity on mental health,” explains Dr Joel Methorst, who conducted the study as a researcher at the Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI) and the University of Hamburg.
“Our results suggest that the presence of diverse birdlife in a person’s neighbourhood can contribute positively to mental well-being,” says Dr. Joel Methorst. “Further analyses revealed that socioeconomic status has a significant influence on the relationship between bird diversity and mental health. People with lower incomes benefited the most from higher bird diversity in their neighbourhoods compared to people with higher incomes.”
The results show that nature experiences and contact with nature and biodiversity should be considered as part of public health policy. The integration of nature conservation and urban planning principles into health programmes could have a positive impact on the mental health of the population, the scientist concludes.
Originalpublication
Methorst J, Positive relationship between bird diversity and human mental health: an analysis of repeated cross-sectional data, May, 2024 Lancet Planetary Health, https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00023-8
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