05-07-2016, 12:58 AM
Now I know why I have always liked trees.
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Being around trees makes you less stressed – study
![[Image: tree-large_trans++eo_i_u9APj8RuoebjoAHt0...nGRumA.jpg]](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/science/2016/05/06/tree-large_trans++eo_i_u9APj8RuoebjoAHt0k9u7HhRJvuo-ZLenGRumA.jpg)
People relax behind a Japanese blooming cherry tree at the horticultural exhibition 'ega' in Erfurt, Germany, May 6 2016 CREDIT: AP
Viewing trees helps people become less stressed - and the effect increases the more trees are visible.
A new study by researchers at University of Illinois has confirmed the long-held understanding that natural scenery can be a useful tool in helping reduce psychological stress.
The research team, led by Dr Bin Jiang, subjected 158 volunteers to mildly stressful scenarios, including preparing a speech and delivering it to a group of people, after which they were asked to perform a subtraction task in front of judges and a video camera.
After undertaking the stress-inducing activities, the volunteers used a VR headset to view one of a selection of six-minute 360-degree videos featuring urban areas with variable amounts of visible tree canopy coverage.
The participants’ levels of stress were measured by self-reported questionnaire – and the results revealed a positive, linear association between the density of trees and recovery from stress recovery
“These findings suggest that viewing tree canopy in communities can significantly aid stress recovery and that every tree matters,” researchers said.
The study is only the latest in a body of research that has demonstrated the positive psychological benefits of spending time in natural environments.
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Thoughts......
More on it....not that I am a tree hugger but that it is good to understand trees are a valuable resource to after using re-new them. and I think consider older mature certain varieties
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A Dose-Response Curve Describing the Relationship Between Urban Tree Cover Density and Self-Reported Stress Recovery
Abstract
Although it is well established that viewing nature can help individuals recover from a stressful experience, the dose-response curve describing the relationship between tree cover density and stress recovery is totally unclear. A total of 160 participants engaged in a standard Trier Social Stress Test to induce stress.
Participants were then randomly assigned to watch 1 of 10 three-dimensional videos of street scenes that varied in the density of tree cover (from 2% to 62%). Participants completed a Visual Analog Scale questionnaire at three points in the experiment.
Analysis revealed a positive, linear association between the density of urban street trees and self-reported stress recovery, adjusted R2 = .05, F(1, 149) = 8.53, p < .01.
This relationship holds after controlling for gender, age, and baseline stress levels.
A content analysis of participants’ written narratives revealed a similar but even stronger association.
These findings suggest that viewing tree canopy in communities can significantly aid stress recovery and that every tree matters.
===
Being around trees makes you less stressed – study
![[Image: tree-large_trans++eo_i_u9APj8RuoebjoAHt0...nGRumA.jpg]](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/science/2016/05/06/tree-large_trans++eo_i_u9APj8RuoebjoAHt0k9u7HhRJvuo-ZLenGRumA.jpg)
People relax behind a Japanese blooming cherry tree at the horticultural exhibition 'ega' in Erfurt, Germany, May 6 2016 CREDIT: AP
Viewing trees helps people become less stressed - and the effect increases the more trees are visible.
A new study by researchers at University of Illinois has confirmed the long-held understanding that natural scenery can be a useful tool in helping reduce psychological stress.
The research team, led by Dr Bin Jiang, subjected 158 volunteers to mildly stressful scenarios, including preparing a speech and delivering it to a group of people, after which they were asked to perform a subtraction task in front of judges and a video camera.
After undertaking the stress-inducing activities, the volunteers used a VR headset to view one of a selection of six-minute 360-degree videos featuring urban areas with variable amounts of visible tree canopy coverage.
The participants’ levels of stress were measured by self-reported questionnaire – and the results revealed a positive, linear association between the density of trees and recovery from stress recovery
“These findings suggest that viewing tree canopy in communities can significantly aid stress recovery and that every tree matters,” researchers said.
The study is only the latest in a body of research that has demonstrated the positive psychological benefits of spending time in natural environments.
=============
Thoughts......
More on it....not that I am a tree hugger but that it is good to understand trees are a valuable resource to after using re-new them. and I think consider older mature certain varieties
=============
A Dose-Response Curve Describing the Relationship Between Urban Tree Cover Density and Self-Reported Stress Recovery
- 1University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, IL, USA
- 2University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Bin Jiang, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, 101 Buell Hall, 611 E. Taft, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. Email: jiang25@illinois.edu; jiangbin@hku.hk
Abstract
Although it is well established that viewing nature can help individuals recover from a stressful experience, the dose-response curve describing the relationship between tree cover density and stress recovery is totally unclear. A total of 160 participants engaged in a standard Trier Social Stress Test to induce stress.
Participants were then randomly assigned to watch 1 of 10 three-dimensional videos of street scenes that varied in the density of tree cover (from 2% to 62%). Participants completed a Visual Analog Scale questionnaire at three points in the experiment.
Analysis revealed a positive, linear association between the density of urban street trees and self-reported stress recovery, adjusted R2 = .05, F(1, 149) = 8.53, p < .01.
This relationship holds after controlling for gender, age, and baseline stress levels.
A content analysis of participants’ written narratives revealed a similar but even stronger association.
These findings suggest that viewing tree canopy in communities can significantly aid stress recovery and that every tree matters.


![[Image: hi_res_tree_test_render_by_fizzoman-d5hc4fh.jpg]](http://pre11.deviantart.net/c642/th/pre/i/2012/282/8/1/hi_res_tree_test_render_by_fizzoman-d5hc4fh.jpg)



![[Image: B2k2QiK.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/B2k2QiK.jpg)