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For years, the prescription for urban malaise has been simple: live near a park. However, a groundbreaking new study suggests that merely living in a “leafy” neighborhood might not be enough to safeguard your mental health. To truly reap the psychological rewards of the great outdoors, you have to actually notice it—and you have to do so while moving.
New research led by the Université de Montréal (UdeM) reveals that the most significant boosts to mental well-being occur when individuals perceive and engage with nature across multiple facets of their lives, particularly during physical activity. The study, published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, arrives at a critical juncture as young adults face an unprecedented mental health crisis.
The Perception Gap: Why Tree Counts Aren’t Everything
Traditionally, public health researchers have used satellite imagery and geospatial data to measure “greenness”—calculating the distance between a person’s front door and the nearest forest or park. But Corentin Montiel, a postdoctoral fellow at UdeM, and Professor Isabelle Doré suspected that the human element was missing from these coordinates.
“We wanted to find out whether people are aware of the presence of trees and greenery in their environment,” says Doré, a professor at UdeM’s School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences. “So we focused on participants’ perceptions of their surroundings in daily life in general and while exercising in particular.”
The researchers analyzed 357 participants from the MATCH longitudinal study in New Brunswick, Canada. With an average age of nearly 22, these young adults represent a demographic that has seen a sharp decline in mental stability over the last decade.
The Stats: A Generation Under Pressure
The urgency of this research is underscored by sobering statistics regarding youth mental health in Canada:
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2011–2018: Mood and anxiety disorders rose significantly among 19- to 24-year-olds.
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The Pandemic Pivot: In 2018, 72% of 15- to 29-year-olds reported being “very satisfied” with their lives. By June 2020, that number plummeted to just 26%.
The “Compounding Effect” of Nature Exposure
The study’s most striking finding is that nature exposure isn’t a “one and done” deal. The mental health benefits appear to be cumulative, requiring a “high-dose” perception in both daily life and during exercise to move the needle on clinical scales.
The researchers divided participants into groups based on how often they noticed nature:
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The Low-Exposure Group: 35% of participants reported low nature perception in both daily life and during exercise.
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The High-Exposure Group: 25% of participants reported high perception in both settings.
The Result: The high-exposure group scored 7.4 points higher on the mental health scale than their low-exposure peers. Even after the researchers adjusted for “baseline” mental health—meaning they accounted for how people felt before the study began—the group that noticed nature in both contexts still maintained a significant 3.6-point advantage.
“It seems perception of nature must be combined across different settings to realize mental health benefits,” Doré concludes.
The “Inward vs. Outward” Shift
Why does exercise in nature feel so much better than a treadmill session? According to the researchers, it comes down to where we point our attention.
When we exercise indoors or in sterile environments, our brains often focus inward—on the burning in our lungs, the sweat on our brow, or the ticking clock. Natural spaces encourage an outward shift. Focusing on the sound of birdsong or the pattern of leaves on a trail provides a form of “soft fascination” that allows the brain’s executive functions to rest and recover.
“Natural spaces redirect attention outward… rather than inward toward bodily sensations such as fatigue,” the study notes. This shift can make exercise feel less like a chore and more like a restorative experience.
Addressing the “Green Divide”
While the benefits of nature are clear, access to it is not equal. The UdeM study highlights a pressing issue of health equity. In Canada and much of North America, lower-income households, immigrants, and racialized minorities often live in “nature deserts” with fewer trees and poorly maintained parks.
To bridge this gap, Professor Doré advocates for a two-pronged approach:
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Community Mobility: Programs like school outings and carpooling to more distant, “wild” natural environments.
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Hyper-Local Engagement: Enhancing the “perceivability” of nature in the city. “You don’t have to be deep in nature to hear and feel it,” says Doré. “A city park can get people moving and increase their well-being.”
Expert Perspective: A New Lens on Wellness
“This study confirms what many of us observe in clinical practice—that mindfulness is a multiplier for the benefits of exercise,” says Dr. Sarah Jenkins, a psychiatrist not involved in the study. “It’s not just about getting the heart rate up; it’s about where the mind goes while the body is moving. If you’re staring at a screen while on a stationary bike, you’re missing half the medicine.”
What This Means for You
If you want to maximize your mental health, consider these practical shifts:
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Ditch the Headphones: Occasionally leave the podcasts behind to listen to the environment.
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Look Up: Actively look for birds, clouds, or changing leaves during your walk to work.
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The “Dual-Setting” Goal: Aim to notice nature both during your “productive” time (commutes/errands) and your “recreational” time (workouts).
The Road Ahead: Project SeeNAT
The research doesn’t stop here. Doré’s team is now launching SeeNAT, a four-year project that will dive deeper into 36 different types of physical activity—ranging from a casual game of soccer in a local park to intensive backcountry hiking.
The goal? To find the “Goldilocks zone” of outdoor activity that offers the greatest mental health dividends. Using geospatial data alongside participant surveys, they hope to unlock why some people see a lush forest where others only see a collection of trees.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.
References
Primary Study
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Montiel, C., & Doré, I. (2025). Is It the Walk or the Park? Exploring Associations Between Exposure to Nature in General and Through Physical Activity and Positive Mental Health in Young Adults in Canada. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2025-0349.
