Reference: Afifi, Tracie O & , Romano , Elisa (2017). Ending the Spanking Debate. Child Abuse & Neglect 71, 3 – 4. Getting out into nature enhances our mental health, prior research indicates. Bird watching is a highly popular sport. British psychologists wanted to use smartphones in real - time to determine whether seeing or hearing birds imme diately impacted people’s mental well - being and for how long. Researchers surveyed nearly 1300 volunteers (half from UK, the other half from Europe, US, India, Australia, and China) 70% female, ages 16 - 80, mean 34 years, and University educated, majority employed or students) . They asked them to carry smartphones so they could answer in real - time where they were — inside or outdoors. When signaled, participants answered brief questions about their activity, whether they heard or saw birds, trees, plants, water, and their current mental well - bein g. Results? An analysis of nearly 27,000 responses from April 2018 - October 2021 showed that encounters with birds led to higher ratings of mental well - being, even for those who self - reported having had a diagnosis of depression. Participants’ wellbeing was significantly better when seeing and hearing birds, than if just seeing trees, plants, and water or hearing it . Their positivity lasted into the next day. Enhance your positivity and mood , get outside! Find the birds! What are they doing?

Written by Juanita N. Baker , Ph.D.