A Summary of Nature’s Positive Effects on Adolescents

Learning to cope with life’s various stressors is challenging, and for adolescents, building the skills to do so takes more effort, time, and strength than for an adult. Thankfully, through all this hard work, mechanisms become easier to apply as situations unfold; however, that does not remove the fact that something new can always be learned. For example, nature, a space many individuals overlook, can provide ease to the human brain. Specifically, nature allows humans to embrace restoration, alleviate anxiety and stress, and develop the brain beyond simple education. In this summary, each one of these things will be picked apart for the benefit of adolescents in particular, as adolescents' prime “years are all about fine-tuning how the brain works,” and developing new ways to grow as individuals (National Institute of Mental Health).

Restoration is a simple yet profound word that holds answers to many human dilemmas. In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word ‘restoration’ means “an act of restoring or the condition of being restored” (“Restoration”). As previously stated, life can be a constant uphill battle, and as a result, the brain and body can deteriorate. This is where the word ‘restoration’ comes in. For humans, finding moments to reset and restore their natural rhythm after facing hardships is essential for regaining a positive connection to their mind and body. While people’s choices about how to restore vary, one thing never changes—everyone needs it. For adolescents, many things can be restorative: “carving out time [for oneself], getting some sleep, and turning off smart phones” are only some of the many practices adolescents can use (Beresin). Besides that, there is something else equally restorative as other methods, nature. 

There are many different ways nature is restorative, especially for adolescents who find themselves consumed by life’s difficulties. One example of this is that nature allows individuals to recenter. When the brain is overloaded, it gradually shuts down to cope with the imperative neediness of external factors. This type of burden is usually seen in adolescents based in large urban areas, as these individuals are more prone to constant overbearing influences. On the flip side, “[n]atural spaces[...]engage what is referred to as soft fascination, which are aspects of the environment that capture attention effortlessly,” instead of stressfully, which leads to lower levels of overstimulating, burdening emotions (O’Connor). This soft fascination that nature obtains eases depleted individuals and creates a positive environment for adolescents to regroup when needed.

Beyond this primary point, nature can be exceptionally useful to relieve stress and anxiety. On par with the concept of restoration, nature provides an environment for adolescents to calm themselves and their anxieties firsthand. Specifically, nature lowers the cortisol hormone. Cortisol is found in the glands above the kidneys, and their main purpose is “[r]egulating how your body uses glucose (sugar) for energy, decreasing inflammation, regulating blood pressure, helping control your sleep-wake cycle,” and most importantly, adjusting stress levels (Cleveland Clinic). As a result, cortisol plays a significant role in everyone’s daily life, even if the factors are completely different. That means when a person’s cortisol levels increase, their body is more prone to inflammation, high blood pressure, sleep issues, and difficulty regulating sugar. When this occurs, nature comes in and acts as a natural pill through its blissful energy and peaceful qualities. Another plus of all of this? A Harvard Medical School study found that even  “[s]pending at least 20 to 30 minutes immersed in a nature setting [is] associated with the biggest drop in cortisol levels,” meaning it does not require a lot of time in nature to reboot after anxiety and stress take over (Harvard Health Publishing). 

All of this loops perfectly into the last point about how nature can teach adolescents about themselves. In previous articles, the idea of growth through adolescent years is apparent. Everything adolescents do, from developing relationships to failing a math test, helps them build new skills. While it is always up to the individual how much they truly gain from these stepping stones, other factors, such as nature, can help adolescents reach these points more quickly. First and foremost, nature requires an individual to challenge their boundaries. Not everyone is inherently comfortable when biking or hiking, per se; nonetheless, this strife has its benefits. Specifically, it helps build self-confidence during unfamiliar scenarios because “[as humans] challenge [themselves] and push [their] boundaries, [they] learn that [they] are capable of more than [they] thought” (George). Secondly, and lastly, nature also cultivates resilience and perseverance. Nature is filled with unknowns, and sometimes unpredictability can make people fearful. Instead of falling into that cycle of fright, though, adolescents who push through nature’s hardships “foster critical thinking and problem-solving abilities” that they can apply back in their daily routines (Cube Creative).

Nature is beautiful. It has gorgeous features: mountains, rivers, parks, beaches, and more; however, there is something deeper about these wonderful creations. The rich qualities of nature provide a place like no other for everyone, but especially adolescents. When life’s elements become tricky, adolescents are hit hard, as they are still in a developmental stage where they need a place to release and reset. Nature, thankfully, is that place. By using it as a place to restore, relieve anxiety and stress, and grow the mind, adolescents will undoubtedly benefit from nature and the advantages it constantly provides.