Review of the Mental Health and Well-being Benefits of Biodiversity

Abstract

Little is known about the contribution that biodiversity has on mental health and well-being. To date, only one systematic review has investigated the health and well-being benefits from contact with biodiversity (Lovell et al. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev 17(1):1-20, 2014). The number of research studies investigating the health and well-being effects of biodiversity has increased since this publication. Here, we provide an update, focusing on the impact of biodiversity on mental health and well-being. Our objectives are to: (i) identify and describe the literature published after 2012; and (ii) synthesise all results from Lovell et al. (J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev 17(1):1-20, 2014) and the more recently published literature to assess whether biodiversity influences mental health and wellbeing. Sixteen recently published studies met the inclusion criteria. The literature is varied with different study designs, measures of biodiversity, mental health and well-being. The synthesis of results was drawn from 24 studies: nine from Lovell et al.

Domestic gardens and self-reported health: a national population study

“…Potential hypothesised pathways between average garden size and poor general health could be categorised as: Gardening [ 29 ]: areas with larger average gardens might contain populations that are more likely to have increased levels of gardening; Other individual/household level exposure: individuals with access to larger gardens might derive positive health benefits related to the size of the garden, for example: increased time spent within larger gardens [ 32 ]. Other mechanisms include enhanced potential to undertake physical exercise [ 33 ] within larger gardens; physiological benefits from views [ 34 ] within their own garden—possibly related to larger gardens having a greater diversity of garden features [ 31 ] or increased tree coverage [ 32 ]; an enhanced feeling of ‘being away’—a key characteristic of psychologically restorative environments [ 35 ]; physiological benefits from increased tranquillity (and reduced noise levels) [ 36 ] or enhanced biodiversity [ 37 , 38 ] associated with larger gardens. Population level impact: benefits may accrue from living in an area of larger gardens even if the individual(s) themselves do not have access to a large garden, for example through reduced air pollution [ 34 ], more regulated temperatures [ 39 ], physiological benefits from views [ 34 ] of other people’s gardens, or enhanced biodiversity in the area in general [ 37 , 38 ].…”

“…Other individual/household level exposure: individuals with access to larger gardens might derive positive health benefits related to the size of the garden, for example: increased time spent within larger gardens [ 32 ]. Other mechanisms include enhanced potential to undertake physical exercise [ 33 ] within larger gardens; physiological benefits from views [ 34 ] within their own garden—possibly related to larger gardens having a greater diversity of garden features [ 31 ] or increased tree coverage [ 32 ]; an enhanced feeling of ‘being away’—a key characteristic of psychologically restorative environments [ 35 ]; physiological benefits from increased tranquillity (and reduced noise levels) [ 36 ] or enhanced biodiversity [ 37 , 38 ] associated with larger gardens.…”

“…Population level impact: benefits may accrue from living in an area of larger gardens even if the individual(s) themselves do not have access to a large garden, for example through reduced air pollution [ 34 ], more regulated temperatures [ 39 ], physiological benefits from views [ 34 ] of other people’s gardens, or enhanced biodiversity in the area in general [ 37 , 38 ].…”

Biodiversity and Spiritual Well-being

“…As noted in Sect. 10.4.1 and by others (Lovell et al 2014;Marselle et al 2018), most studies are cross-sectional and yield only associative results. We recommend taking a public health perspective and selecting research designs to more clearly investigate causal relationships.…”

Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework

“…For example, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are collaborating to promote awareness of the influence of biodiversity on human health and well-being (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2016). In recent years, evidence has emerged that biodiversity is associated with physical health (Lovell et al, 2014;Romanelli et al, 2015;Aerts, Honnay and Nieuwenhuyse, 2018) and mental health (Lovell et al, 2014;Korpela, Pasanen and Ratcliffe, 2018;Marselle, Martens, et al, 2019). These studies show a direct relationship between biodiversity and human health outcomes.…”