Stress Relief Through Visual Calm
Enhancing Wellness Through Nature Photography

Evidence-Based Benefits
Clinical research supports the use of nature imagery to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and promote emotional well-being in indoor environments.

In Medical Settings:

1. Nature Images Reduce Anxiety in Medical Settings

Study: Visual Art in Hospitals: Case Studies and Review of the Evidence
Authors: Rosalia Staricoff
Published by: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
📄 Read the summary →https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2996524/

Displaying nature-based art in hospitals reduced anxiety and even improved clinical outcomes in patients. Contemporary or modern art did not produce the same effect.

2. Nature Imagery Reduces Stress

Study: View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery
Authors: Roger S. Ulrich
Published in: Science, 1984
📄 Read the abstract/study →https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6143402/

Patients recovering from surgery in rooms with windows overlooking nature had shorter hospital stays and took fewer pain medications.

3. Green Scenes Improve Recovery and Wellbeing

Study: Healing Gardens — Places for Nature in Health Care
Authors: Clare Cooper Marcus & Marni Barnes
Published by: Center for Health Design
📄 Overview →https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(06)69920-0/fulltext

The presence of natural scenes or gardens in healthcare environments significantly improved patient satisfaction and recovery metrics.

4. Forest Imagery Lowers Blood Pressure

Study: The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan
Authors: Bum Jin Park et al.
Published in: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 2010
📄 Read the study →https://environhealthprevmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1007/s12199-009-0086-9

Participants experienced lower cortisol levels, pulse rate, and blood pressure after viewing or walking in forest environments.

In the Office:

1. Nature Imagery in the Workplace Reduces Stress

Study: Healthy Workplaces: The Effects of Nature Contact at Work on Employee Stress and Health
Authors: Erin Largo-Wight, W William Chen, Robert Weiler
Published in: Journal of Environmental Health, 2011
📄 Read the abstract/study →https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00333549111260S116

The findings suggest that nature contact is a healthy workplace exposure. Increasing nature contact at work may offer a simple population-based approach to enhance workplace health promotion efforts.

2. Virtual Nature Breaks Restore Mental Energy

Study: Short virtual nature breaks in the office environment can restore stress: An experimental study
Authors: Ann Ojala, Marjo Neuvonen, Mika Kurkilahti, Marianne Leinikka, Minna Huotilainen, Liisa Tyrväinen
Published in: Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2022
📄 Read the abstract/study →https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494422001542?via%3Dihub

Short virtual nature breaks, including viewing nature photographs, can effectively restore attention and reduce stress in office environments.

3. Viewing Nature Scenes Enhances Autonomic Recovery

Study: Viewing Nature Scenes Positively Affects Recovery of Autonomic Function Following Acute-Mental Stress
Authors: Daniel K. Brown, Jo L. Barton, Valerie F. Gladwell
Published in: Environmental Science & Technology, 2013
📄 Read the abstract/study →https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es305019p

The findings suggest that nature contact is a healthy workplace exposure. Increasing nature contact at work may offer a simple population-based approach to enhance workplace health promotion efforts.

4. Digital Nature Exposure Lowers Anxiety

Study: Daily exposure to virtual nature reduces symptoms of anxiety in college students
Authors: Browning, M.H.E.M., Shin, S., Drong, G. et al.
Published in: Scientific Reports, 2023
📄 Read the abstract/study →https://rdcu.be/eijdF

Daily exposure to digital nature, including photographs, significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety in participants, suggesting benefits for workplace stress management.