It's probably no surprise that nature is beneficial to our mental health.

大自然對我們的心理健康有益，這大概並不令人驚訝

From hitting the beach, to taking a long stroll through the park, multiple studies have shown

從去海灘玩到在公園漫步，許多研究都顯示

that there's something about nature that helps us feel happier, more focused, or just generally better.

自然有某種力量可以幫助我們感到更快樂、更專注或就是普遍地更好

But why that happens is trickier to figure out.

但更難理解的是這是怎麼發生的

From what psychologists can tell, though, it's not just about getting in some sunshine

心理學家說明這不只是得到更多陽光

and Vitamin D. Instead, it might have to do with our sense of belonging.

和維他命 D 。反倒可能與我們的歸屬感有關

The idea that nature is healing is not a new one, and exposure to natural environments

大自然的治癒力並非新的構想，而且接觸自然環境

has been an important part of mental health treatments for a long time.

已是長期以來心理健康治療重要的一部分

As early as the Middle Ages, monasteries for those with mental illnesses created so-called

早至中世紀，僧侶為了有心理疾病的病患創造了所謂的

restorative gardens.

復癒型庭園

And in the 1800s, people designing mental hospitals would try and make sure their buildings

而在 1800 年代，設計精神病院的人會嘗試確保建築物

were surrounded by acres of natural land.

被數英畝的自然土地圍繞

So far, modern research really supports this idea, too.

迄今，現代研究也支持這個構想

Studies have shown that being exposed to nature — whether it's a wilderness preserve or

研究顯示接觸大自然-不論是荒野保護區或是

a tree-lined city street — can improve wellbeing in a bunch of ways, both in those with and

綠樹成蔭的城市街道-可以很多種方式增進身心健康，對有或

without clinical conditions.

沒有臨床症狀者皆然

For example, a 2011 meta-analysis looked at studies involving a total of almost 850 participants

舉例來說，一項 2011 年的整合分析綜合了總數近 850 位參與者的研究

— mostly students.

-大部分是學生

It found that exercising in a natural environment resulted in higher feelings of revitalization

發現了在自然環境中運動比在室內從事相同運動

than doing the same exercise indoors.

結果更加活力充沛

And another study from 2012 found that walking through nature for 50 minutes provided a mood

還有另一項 2012 年的研究發現在大自然走路 50 分鐘可以讓 20 位有憂鬱症的參與者

boost and other cognitive benefits for twenty participants with depression.

心情變好以及提供其他認知的好處

There's also evidence to suggest that those with schizophrenia, ADHD, and a whole host

也有證據顯示精神分裂症、注意力不足過動症以及許多

of other illnesses experience similar benefits just from taking in a little scenery.

其他疾病也從光是欣賞風景就得到相似的益處

So far, there are several factors that have been floated around as possible explanations for this.

迄今，流傳著許多可能的解釋因子

One is that nature allows us to recover from stress and attention fatigue.

其中之一是大自然讓我們從壓力和注意力疲乏中復原

This is the idea that urban environments have too many things competing for our attention.

這個想法是都市環境有太多東西在競爭我們的注意力

Other studies suggest that nature offers exercise opportunities, facilitation of social interaction

其他研究表示大自然一般來說提供運動機會、促進社交互動與發展

and development, and opportunities for personal development in general.

以及個人成長的機會

But a lot of these factors haven't been investigated in rigorous depth.

但其中很多的因子尚未被縝密地研究

They also don't really explain the mechanisms of how we gain psychological benefits just

它們也無法真正解釋

from existing in nature, rather than running around in nature, chilling with friends in nature.

光是存在大自然中，而不是在大自然四處跑、和朋友待在一塊，我們如何得到精神上的好處

In fact, most research on the subject seems to describe the mechanisms as "elusive."

事實上，這個主題的研究大多都將此機制描述為「難懂的」

Which is psychologist speak for, “We dunno.

也就是心理學家說的，「不知道，

We're workin' on it.”

我們還在研究。」

Still, that doesn't mean we don't have a hypotheses or two.

這不代表我們沒有一兩個假說

Some researchers argue that these positive effects, at least in part, come about because

一些研究員表示這些正向效果，至少部分，會發生是因為

of an increased sense of connectedness to the natural world.

對自然世界的連結感提升

One significant experiment about this was published in 2009 in Environment and Behavior,

一個相關的重大實驗於 2009 年被刊在環境與行為

and it looked at the effect of exposure to nature on mood and problem solving.

它探討了接觸自然對情緒與問題解決的效果

In this study, 76 students were asked to complete questionnaires on mood, along with the Connectedness

在這項研究中，76 名學生被要求完成情緒調查表，以及

with Nature Scale – or CNS – which measures pretty much what the name implies.

對自然連結量表-或稱 CNS -評量內容差不多如其名

It asks participants to rate how they feel about some vaguely hippy-ish stuff, like 'Right

它請參與者對一些嬉皮的東西給予評價，像是

now I'm feeling a sense of oneness with the natural world'.

「此時此刻我感到與自然世界合而為一」

Or 'I'm feeling like the natural world is a community to which I belong'.

或是「我覺得自己屬於自然世界」

After rating 13 of those peace and love statements, the students were split into two groups, and

在評價那 13 個愛與和平的陳述句後，學生們被分為兩群

bundled onto buses for a field trip.

並被送上公車去郊遊

They took a 20-minute drive to either a nature reserve or a downtown parking lot.

經 20 分鐘車程到達自然保護區或是一處市中心的停車場

Then, they spent around 15 minutes silently walking, sitting, and taking in the scenery

他們花大約 15 分鐘安靜地走路、坐著以及欣賞風景

before filling out those questionnaires again.

然後再次填答問卷

The results showed that participants who went to the nature reserve reported significantly

結果顯示去自然保護區的受試者

more of a mood boost from their trip.

從旅程中獲得更顯著的心情好轉

Their feelings of being connected to nature were also higher than those who took a stroll in the parking lot.

他們對於與自然的連結感也比在停車場散步的那些人來得高

Now, this in itself isn't massively surprising.

現在，這件事本身並不非常令人意外

You can imagine it's probably hard to feel at one with the universe standing on a stretch of concrete.

你可以想像站在一塊水泥地上大概很難感覺到與宇宙融合

What was more interesting is that the CNS survey results seemed to mediate the effects of the environment.

更有趣的是 CNS 調查的結果似乎調和了環境造成的效果

More specifically, when people reported that they felt part of nature, their mood boost

更特別的是，當人們感到融入了自然，他們的情緒提升

tended to be bigger.

有更顯著的傾向

So it wasn't just about seeing nature; it was about feeling like they are part of it.

所以不只是攸關看見大自然；而是關乎感到自己是自然的一部分

The scientists behind this experiment argue that it's that sense of connectedness that

這個實驗幕後的科學家聲稱是連結感

causes all those positive benefits.

造成所有這些的好處

And they cite something called the biophilia hypothesis as a possible mechanism for this.

而且他們引用了親生命假說為可能機制

The hypothesis theorizes that since, evolutionarily speaking, we're used to living in natural environments,

這個假說成為學說是因為既然，從演化的觀點而言，我們習慣於生活在自然環境中

we all have some innate urge to seek out nature.

我們都有某種先天的渴望去尋求大自然

The researchers suggest that we need to see ourselves as part of it, belonging to the

研究人員建議我們必須將自己視為大自然的一部分，歸屬於

same group as the various plant and wildlife species we share our planet with.

我們與我們的星球所共享的各種植物與野生物種的同一個群體

It can be hard to prove evolutionary hypotheses like this, especially when they're as abstract as this one.

要證明像這種演化的假說可能很難，尤其當它們和這一個一樣抽象的時候

But the concept that we need to belong to groups to stay mentally healthy is one of

但我們需要歸屬於群體以維持心理健康的概念

the main principles of social psychology research.

是社會心理學研究的主要原則之一

In fact, it's such an important concept that having a sense of belonging with other

事實上，很重要的概念是，與他人產生歸屬感

people is seen as a core human need in some models.

在某些模型中被視為核心的人類需求

Not having this sense of belonging can lead to things like lowered immune response, and

沒有這種歸屬感可導致免疫反應低落

poorer sleep quality.

以及睡眠品質變差等等

And, conveniently, those are exactly the kind of functions researchers have seen improve

而且，很合宜地，那些正是研究人員發現

when we're exposed to natural environments.

當我們接觸自然時會改善的功能

So it's not that huge of a stretch to think that maybe that need to feel like we belong

所以並不是那麼困難去認為或許對於歸屬感的需求

extends beyond human interactions, to seeing ourselves as part of the wider ecosystem on our planet.

超越人類互動，將我們自己視為地球上更廣大的生態系統中的一份子

It's a plausible idea, and the results of this study certainly support it.

這個點子煞有其事，而這項研究結果當然支持它

But like with a lot of other big ideas, it would help to have more research to be sure.

但就如同許多其他大構想，有更多研究確認會更好

If nothing else, though, studies do suggest that time in nature is really good for you.

然而如果沒有其他的證明，研究確實認為花時間在自然對你真的有好處

So even if we don't totally know why, it's probably worth visiting your local park sometime.

所以即使我們並不完全明瞭原因，或許值得偶爾走訪一下鄰近的公園

Your brain — and your mood — will thank you.

你的腦-還有你的情緒-會感謝你的

Thanks for watching this episode of SciShow Psych!

感謝收看這一集的 SciShow Psych！

If you enjoy hanging out in nature and want to learn more about it, you can check out

如果你享受在大自然遨遊而且想要了解更多，你可以查看

one of our newest sister channels, Nature League!

我們最新的姊妹頻道之一，Nature League！

In it, SciShow Psych's very own Brit Garner explores all things wild — and takes you

其中，SciShow Psych 的自己人 Brit Garner 探索了野生的事物

on some field trips as a bonus.

還會額外帶你去郊遊

You can find it at youtube.com/natureleague.

可以在 youtube.com/natureleague 找到它

[ ♪ OUTRO ]

[♪ 尾奏 ]