Posted: May 3rd, 2023

An Urban Community

It is known that trees improve air quality, produce shade and cooling, and create a more aesthetically pleasing environment. Several studies have shown that exposure to green spaces can be physiologically and psychologically beneficial to those suffering with a mental disorder. Green spaces can reduce blood pressure, stress levels, non-accidental mortality and promote physical activity (Kaczynski 2007). In addition, green spaces can enhance cardio-vascular benefits of physical activity, compared to other settings.
Experimental research has demonstrated that interacting with nature can have beneficial effects on memory and attention for both healthy individuals and those that suffer from Major Depressive Disorder (Berman 2012). In addition, those with clear views of natural settings from office buildings, hospitals, and homes, have been found to reduce aggression and crime in cities and improve recovery time from surgery (Kuo 2001).
Work done by Ulrich in 1984, showed that patients in the process of recovery from gall-bladder removal surgery that had a clear, natural view were discharged faster and required less pain medication than patients that had a view of industrial buildings. Recently, observational studies have shown that green space is related to a decrease in obesity, mortality rate, and better overall general health (Mitchell and Popham 2007). Research has concluded that the natural environment and trees specifically, can improve overall human health. In this study, I was interested in examining a correlation between green spaces in Harrisburg, PA to mental health.

For many residents living in an urban community, there is often stress and anxiety due to traumatic events and stressors that can disrupt the everyday life of an individual. Stressors can include timely commutes, negative interactions with friends or family members, loud noises, and even financial struggles. Recent research has shown a connection between nature and mental health as it can provide an antitoxin to stress and other related mental health issues by easing the mind and healing the body (Wolf et al. 2014).
Observations made by professionals and residents about nature as an antitoxin for the negative effects of urban living can be promoted to the urban park movement which found strong correlation between green spaces and good health. More recently, observations are confirmed by scientific measures of human stress and physiological response (Hickman 2013). Living near green spaces, having a view of a garden or natural setting, can reduce stress and contribute to improved wellness for those living in the city.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) defines the term stress as “a feeling of emotional or physical tension…stress is your body’s reaction to a challenge or demand” (The National Institute of Health 2018). If unresolved, human health can face multiple challenges. The part of the brain that reacts to stress is the hypothalamus which is directly linked to the autonomic nervous system which controls basic physiological functions.
When bodies become stressed, the body heightens the attention p, blood pressure rises, the digestive system slows down, respiration increases, the pulse becomes faster, and more adrenaline is produced. A response that is primal to humans is the “fight or flight” response. It is the physiological response that occurs when a human is faced with an attack, a perceivable harmful event, or a threat for human survival (Harvard Medical School 2011).
In today’s urban settings, dangerous situations are not the most common source of stress compared to previous generations. However, the body continues to respond in a similar way to the never-ending stresses of modern society. Stressors can lead to chronic stress which is stress that can last for a long period of time. Individuals that suffer from chronic stress are less likely to be able to manage simple tasks such as getting enough sleep, eating properly, or exercising. When the body cannot provide itself with the proper rest or nutrients, this can be harmful to the cardiovascular system and neuro-hormonal systems (Morita et al. 2007).

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