Pandemic Effects on Nature and Greenspace Exposure/Mental Health.

Bianca Dharamshi

Robert Morrison

NEUR 300

14 October 2022

Pandemic Effects on Nature and Greenspace Exposure/Mental Health

 Seasonal and clinical depression is just one category of effects of extended periods of isolation. Much research has been done to connect the effects of the pandemic and increased levels of depression and other mental health concerns. Socialization, nature, proper nutrition, and an overall sense of self are just a few things that are needed in order to feel alive. People tend to feel anxious and unsafe when the environment changes. In the case of infectious disease outbreaks, when the cause or progression of the disease and outcomes are unclear, rumors grow and closeminded attitudes eventuate (Ren et al. 2020). A large-scale quarantine can cause violence, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, and being trapped, and have detrimental effects on mental and physical well-being. For example, following the SARS epidemic, around 77% of healthcare workers were experiencing these effects as well (Chong et al. 2004). In order to cope with the pandemic, people would try to play more simulating video games or immerse themselves in television that allowed them to live in the outside world through a screen, however, this proved to have adverse effects. 

Dr. Marc Berman's research shows the connection between our temporal and spatial environment and mental health. By examining the different hierarchies and levels of the environment and quantifying those factors, we can further understand interpersonal relationships and behavior. Quantifying the variables can be divided into two categories: temporal and spatial. The temporal environment is referring to the time segments to which a person is exposed to a certain environment, and spatial refers to the type of environmental exposure. This theory is supporting the side of nature over nurture when talking about our environment and past surroundings' influence on the way we interact and our overall behavior. The research methods used in this study showed that artificial and simulated environments will never achieve the cognitive results that true nature will. It has been found that  “groups of neurons in the retina encode predictive information differently for naturally occurring stimuli when compared with artificial, experimenter-constructed stimuli” (Palmer, Marre, Berry, &Bialek, 2015). Through EEG studies, Berman showed that viewing images of nature in comparison to being immersed in it reduces the amount of positive influence on the brain. 

Overall, the pandemic has significantly affected people in many ways. Not only was the lack of urban green space and nature an issue, but also the health anxiety and overall isolation caused many to become depressed and were the root of many of other mental health concerns. Although we are constantly progressing and advancing into a more modern and technological world, nothing can replace the benefits and necessities of nature and urban green space. 

Berman, M. G., Stier, A. J., & Akcelik, G. N. (2019). Environmental neuroscience. American Psychologist, 74(9), 1039–1052. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000583 

Usher, Kim, et al. “The COVID‐19 Pandemic and Mental Health Impacts.” International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, vol. 29, no. 3, 2020, pp. 315–18, https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12726.