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. 2020 Jan 14;10:2942. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02942

Table 5.

Measured effects of time in nature via included studies 31–60 min of walking outdoors: natural vs. urban setting.

Dose Study Measured effect (from natural setting when compared to urban setting)
50-min Arboretum walk vs.
Urban walk
#1
(Berman et al., 2008)
When compared to those walking in the city, those walking in the natural setting showed:
Mood (PANAS—positive subscales)
- No significant difference measured between groups
Attention
- A greater increase of 1.5 digits on backwards digit-span task (t(36) = 4.783, prep = 0.99)
50-min Nature reserve walk vs.
Urban city walk
#2
(Hartig et al., 2003)
When compared to those walking in the city, those walking in the natural setting showed:
Physiology (blood pressure)
- A greater decrease in blood pressure, 30 minutes into walk (p < 0.01). Significance lost at the end of the trial.
Emotion (ZIPERS)(OHS)
- A greater increase in positive emotion, and a greater decrease in feelings of anger and aggressiveness (p < 0.01) (ZIPERS)
- No significant difference measured in overall happiness (OHS)
Attention (NCPCT)
- No significant change in attention could be measured.
50-min Park walk vs.
Urban walk
#3
(Johansson et al., 2011)
When compared to those walking in the city alone and with a friend, those in the natural setting showed:
Affect (EFI scale) (NMS scale)
- An increase in revitalization while walking alone and while walking with a friend. The greatest effect was observed while walking alone (p < 0.05) (EFI)
- A decrease in feelings of being rushed while walking alone (p < 0.05) (NMS)
Attention (Symbol Substitution Test)
- A decline in attention score results (p < 0.05) < Result was unexpected>
Perceived Stress (PSS)
- No significant difference was noticed in PSS.