Birdwatching Improves Mental Well-Being in College Students, New Study Shows

A recent study conducted by researchers at North Carolina State University has found that college students who engage in birdwatching experience improved mental well-being and reduced psychological distress compared to those who do not. The findings, published in the journal Environmental Psychology on April 26, 2024, suggest that birdwatching offers greater benefits to subjective well-being and more significant alleviation of distress than general exposure to nature, such as walks.

Why this matters: As mental health concerns continue to rise on college campuses, this study's findings could have significant implications for the development of effective and accessible interventions to support student well-being. By recognizing the benefits of birdwatching, educators and policymakers may be able to create new opportunities for students to engage with nature and improve their mental health.

The study, led by Nils Peterson, a professor of forestry and environmental resources at North Carolina State University, involved 112 campus participants in a stepped design experiment. The participants were divided into three groups: a control group, a group assigned five nature walks, and a group assigned five 30-minute birdwatching sessions. The researchers evaluated the impact of these weekly exposures on self-reported subjective well-being and psychological distress levels relative to the control group.

To assess subjective well-being, the researchers used the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), a five-question survey. Notably, the birdwatching group started with lower WHO-5 scores but ended the study with higher scores than the other two groups. The researchers also used the STOP-D questionnaire and found that nature engagement, including birdwatching, was more effective than the control group in reducingpsychological distress.

Nils Peterson, the study's corresponding author, stated, "There has been a lot of research about well-being coming out through the pandemic that suggests adolescents and college-aged kids are struggling the most. Bird watching is among the most ubiquitous ways that human beings interact with wildlife globally, and college campuses provide a pocket where there's access to that activity even in more urban settings." The study's findings highlight the potential of birdwatching as a simple and accessible way to promote mental health and well-being among college students.

As mental health concerns continue to rise on college campuses, incorporating birdwatching into wellness programs and encouraging students to engage with nature could be an effective strategy to support their psychological well-being.

The study also paves the way for future research to examine the specific mechanisms through which birdwatching improves mental well-being and to explore the moderating effects of factors such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Understanding these nuances could help tailor birdwatching interventions to better serve diverse student populations.

The mental health crisis on college campuses remains a pressing concern, but the findings of this study offer a glimmer of hope. By embracing the simple act of birdwatching, college students may uncover a powerful tool to enhance their mental well-being and overcome the challenges of their academic path. As more research emerges, birdwatching is likely to gain recognition as a valuable addition to the arsenal ofmental health interventionsavailable to college students.

Key Takeaways

• College students who birdwatch experience improved mental well-being and reduced distress.
• Birdwatching offers greater benefits to mental health than general nature exposure.
• Just 5 birdwatching sessions can increase subjective well-being and reduce psychological distress.
• Birdwatching can be a simple and accessible way to promote mental health on college campuses.
• Future research can explore how birdwatching improves mental well-being and tailor interventions for diverse students.