Health benefits of viewing nature through windows: A meta-analysis

Viewing nature through a window improves mental and physical wellbeing, as demonstrated in a range of interventional and observational studies. This is the conclusion of a systematic literature review, published by Soga and Gaston 2025, that identified 28 studies looking at the effect of nature views on health, including physical, mental and social wellbeing. Most studies (80%) investigated effects of viewing nature from the home and in 60% of studies the nature viewed was a garden or other managed setting. Approximately 80% of studies looked at psychological effects, as opposed to physical or physiological effects.

Viewing nature was shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, decrease stress and anger, and improve positive emotions such as happiness and life satisfaction. When looking at patients recovering following surgery, viewing nature speeded up recovery and reduced perceived pain. According to a meta-analysis of all the studies identified, benefits were greater with managed nature, such as gardens or road-side trees compared with general or wild nature. This may reflect the closer proximity of managed versus non-managed nature to the buildings where people live. The findings clearly suggest that including gardens and other nature views in urban environments is important for the wellbeing of the many who live in built-up areas.

Soga and Gaston 2025: Health benefits of viewing nature through windows: A meta-analysis. BioScience 2025; 75, 628–636

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