City walk or nature walk? Evidence-based psychological and physiological outcomes – A systematic review and meta-analysis

IF 6 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Urban Forestry & Urban Greening Pub Date : 2025-02-21 DOI:10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128726

Lunxin Chen , Ruixiang Yan , Yuting Hu

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Abstract

Background

Anxiety and depression are global mental health issues, affecting approximately one-third of the population and imposing substantial economic and social burdens. Physical exercise, mainly walking, has been recognized as an effective non-pharmacological intervention that significantly improves symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, the benefits of walking in different environments require further investigation.

Objective

This review aims to delve into the impact of walking in natural versus urban environments on levels of depression and anxiety. Outcome measures will include scales assessing the degree of depression and anxiety, as well as heart rate responses.

Methods

A search was conducted across five databases—PubMed, Web of Science (all databases), Medline, Central, and Embase—from their inception to January 11, 2025. The quality of the literature was assessed using the GRADE scale, and all included study data were statistically analyzed using Stata software.

Results

A total of 10 studies, encompassing 457 participants, were included to evaluate the differences between walking in urban and natural environments. Meta-analysis results indicated that walking in natural environments significantly reduced levels of anxiety (SMD=1.30, p = 0.000), depression (SMD=1.11, p = 0.000), and heart rate changes (SMD=0.48, p = 0.000) and in contrast, walking in urban environments slightly increased levels of anxiety (SMD=-0.65, p = 0.000), with no significant impact on depression (SMD=-0.13, p = 0.106) and heart rate changes (SMD=-0.13，p = 0.379).

Conclusion

Walking in natural settings has a positive effect on reducing levels of depression and anxiety and slowing heart rate, while urban walking does not demonstrate similar benefits and may even have adverse effects on anxiety levels.

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来源期刊

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening FORESTRY-

CiteScore

11.70

自引率

12.50%

发文量

289

审稿时长

70 days

期刊介绍： Urban Forestry and Urban Greening is a refereed, international journal aimed at presenting high-quality research with urban and peri-urban woody and non-woody vegetation and its use, planning, design, establishment and management as its main topics. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening concentrates on all tree-dominated (as joint together in the urban forest) as well as other green resources in and around urban areas, such as woodlands, public and private urban parks and gardens, urban nature areas, street tree and square plantations, botanical gardens and cemeteries. The journal welcomes basic and applied research papers, as well as review papers and short communications. Contributions should focus on one or more of the following aspects: -Form and functions of urban forests and other vegetation, including aspects of urban ecology. -Policy-making, planning and design related to urban forests and other vegetation. -Selection and establishment of tree resources and other vegetation for urban environments. -Management of urban forests and other vegetation. Original contributions of a high academic standard are invited from a wide range of disciplines and fields, including forestry, biology, horticulture, arboriculture, landscape ecology, pathology, soil science, hydrology, landscape architecture, landscape planning, urban planning and design, economics, sociology, environmental psychology, public health, and education.