Study: Two Hours a Week in Nature Can Improve Health

Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. inclined / ɪnˈklaɪnd / (adj) – likely or tending to do something
    Example:

    As the eldest child, Regina feels inclined to help pay for her sisters’ school fees.


  2. commune / kəˈmyun / (v) – to become close to something
    Example:

    I love being outdoors and communing with nature.


  3. tranquility / træŋˈkwɪl ɪ ti / (n) – a state of peace and quiet
    Example:

    Being in the countryside gives me a sense of tranquility.


  4. quantify / ˈkwɒn təˌfaɪ / (v) – to measure the size or amount of something
    Example:

    This study aims to quantify how much exercise time one needs per day.


  5. reap / rip / (v) – to get something as a result of an action done
    Example:

    My grandmother is reaping the benefits of the vegetarian lifestyle. She is healthier now.


Article

Read the text below.

A new study has found that people who spend two hours per week in nature are inclined to report good health and better psychological welfare.


Researchers from the University of Exeter reviewed a survey on 20,000 participants regarding their contact with nature in the previous week. The participants answered questions about their overall experience and activities. They were also asked to establish the current state of their health and assess their well-being using a ten-point scale provided by the researchers.


Despite the varying age, socioeconomic status, and location, participants reported the same improved well-being after spending two hours a week in nature. One of the researchers reported that even people with long-term health problems tend to say they feel better after communing with nature. However, doing so for more than two hours did not appear to have additional benefits.


The researchers were unable to look into how and why being in nature results in better health. Nevertheless, they suggest that nature positively affects one’s health and lifestyle because it gives humans a sense of tranquility and a means to reduce stress.


This research is the first to quantify the length of time that one should spend in nature to reap its benefits. The study was conducted after realizing that doctors are unable to tell patients exactly how much time they should commune with nature.


With the study’s results, the researchers hope that lawmakers will put more importance on green spaces. The researchers also recommend using the findings when coming up with infrastructure developments, such as building urban parks.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• After reading the article, would you spend two hours a week in nature? Why or why not?
• What do you think are the other benefits of spending time in nature? Discuss.

Discussion B

• In what ways do you reduce stress or achieve a sense of tranquility? Explain.
• Why is it important to improve one’s well-being?