HEALTH-FITNESS
A little nature goes a long way, new NC State study finds
Gareth McGrathWilmington StarNews
Aug. 8, 2026, 5:00 a.m. ET
Researchers have known for a long time about the positive mental and physical benefits of getting people outside and back in touch with nature, especially for residents of urban and fast-growing metro areas
A new study out of N.C. State University is reinforcing that message with research showing that even small patches of greenspace, postage stamp-sized parks if you will, can offer significant positive effects on mental health compared to loud, often overwhelming urban environments
“Immersing yourself in nature, whether walking or simply listening to birdsongs, has many beneficial health impacts” said Dr. Nils Peterson, a professor at N.C. State and the study’s lead researcher. “If we can do that in more urban environments, it can only be better for residents.”
The research paper, “Both restored forest and birdsong promote psychological well-being,” was published in July 2026 in the journal Environmental Conservation
‘The effects were almost immediate’
To study the impacts of different sounds on people’s emotional state, more than 100 participants at the university wore noise-canceling headphones while sitting in a “green” area or in a busy urban environment. The headphones played either the sound of traffic or the singing of birds, with participants asked to report how their stress levels and how refreshed they felt after the experience
“The effects were almost immediate,” Peterson said of the response to hearing the birds and walking through the greenspace areas. He said they reported positive emotions increasing, negative emotions dropping, stress levels decreasing, and their sense of “restorativeness” rising significantly
Restoring natural ecosystems in high-use areas also may help aller people, researchers say
Rising density doesn’t have to be all bad
While the health and well-being benefits of large parks and open spaces has been well documented, Peterson said the study reinforces that even small steps to make gray urban areas less intimidating can have significant mental health benefits
The value of ecological restoration of urban areas, especially if those steps bring back wildlife like birds, is a growing trend in North Carolina’s fast-growing metro areas as population and development pressure sees many open spaces disappearing at an alarmingly fast rate. The loss of green space, many times tied to the searing pace of development many parts of the Tar Heel State is seeing these days, is often raised by voters as one of their primary concerns
While increasing density has certain advantages, such as less pressure on natural and municipal rer little in the way of urban escapes for its residents
Peterson said research like the recent study shows that even small steps to restore or supplement urban forest canopies and create or protect greenspaces can have significant benefits for the health and well-being of city and suburban residents − particularly when landscape restoration is accompanied by the growth of bird communities
“I hope officials, city planners, and even those in power who can make decisions find it useful if for nothing else than protecting our remaining urban greenspaces,” he said
“I think why this is important is that we now know it works where 80% or more of our population lives,” Peterson said. “There are levers we can pull to help improve the mental health of most of our state’s residents, and I think that’s important.”
Peterson said birdwatching and listening to birdsongs as a positive mental exercise has been gaining more attention recently, partly because it is one of the fastest-growing recreational activities in the country. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, more than 100 million Americans birdwatched in 2022
Listening to the birds
Perhaps the study’s most surprising finding was the positive impact hearing birds can have on mental health
That the activity is fairly easy and accessible to many different social and economic groups is another advantage, as is the proliferation of apps built to promote birdwatching and educate people about birds − especially among young people
“You don’t need a lot of financial or other re
The activity’s popularity also has a knock-off effect in promoting conservation and restoration efforts, which in turn attracts more birds and creates more greenspaces, promoting biodiversity and improving human physical and mental health
“Plus, birds are just cool,” Peterson said with a laugh
Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@usatodayco.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from Journalism Funding Partners. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.
