This study more than caught my eye. Of course it made me wonder what would happen if they switched out the word “BIRD” for the word “BEAVER”.
Birdwatching can help students improve mental health, reduce distress
A new study finds people who have nature-based experiences report better well-being and lower psychological distress than those who do not. Birdwatching in particular yielded promising results, with higher gains in subjective well-being and more reduction in distress than more generic nature exposure, such as walks. Because birdwatching is an easily accessible activity, the results are encouraging for college students – who are among those most likely to suffer from mental health problems.
“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,” said Nils Peterson, corresponding author of the study and a professor of forestry and environmental resources at North Carolina State University. “Especially when you think about students and grad students, it seems like those are groups that are struggling in terms of access to nature and getting those benefits.
“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.”
You know that’s true. Watching birds is soothing and beneficial. Maybe that’s why watching beavers change the populations of birds is so dam wonderful.
Plus the otters mink turtles and frogs.
The study supports the idea that birdwatching helps improve mental health and opens up many avenues for future research. For example, future study could examine why birdwatching helps people feel better or the moderating effects of race, gender and other factors.
The paper, “Birdwatching linked to increased psychological well-being on college campuses: A pilot-scale experimental study,” is published in Environmental Psychology. Co-authors include Lincoln Larson, Aaron Hipp, Justin M. Beall, Catherine Lerose, Hannah Desrochers, Summer Lauder, Sophia Torres, Nathan A. Tarr, Kayla Stukes, Kathryn Stevenson and Katherine L. Martin, all from NC State.
You probably don’t know much about beaver watching in North Carolina where they trap the dickens out of them. But let me tell you that watching beavers didn’t just change ME. It changed a COMMUNITY.
The study supports the idea that birdwatching helps improve mental health and opens up many avenues for future research. For example, future study could examine why birdwatching helps people feel better or the moderating effects of race, gender and other factors.
Speaking of ideas for future studies have I got an idea for you. Lets talk.
