Researchers found that participants who heard bird songs reported feeling happier, more relaxed, and less anxious than those who did not. So, if you’re looking for a quick mood boost, go outside and listen to the birds!
The study from King’s College London used the smartphone application Urban Mind to collect data about people’s mental well-being alongside reports of seeing or hearing birdsong.
Lead author Ryan Hammoud explained, “There is growing evidence on the mental health benefits of being around nature, and we intuitively think that the presence of birdsong and birds would help lift our mood. However, there is little research that has actually investigated the impact of birds on mental health in real-time and in a real environment. By using the Urban Mind app, we have, for the first time, shown the direct link between seeing or hearing birds and positive mood. We hope this evidence can demonstrate the importance of protecting and providing environments to encourage birds, not only for biodiversity but for our mental health.”
The study included 1,292 participants completing 26,856 assessments using the Urban Mind app between April 2018 and October 2021. Each participant was asked three times a day whether they could hear or see birds, followed by mental well-being.
Researchers also collected information on existing diagnoses of mental health conditions and found that seeing or hearing birdlife was associated with improvements in mental well-being. This association was found in both health and people with depression. Researchers showed the associations between birds and mental well-being were not explained by co-occurring environmental factors such as the presence of trees, plants, or waterways.
This study helps to provide an evidence base for creating and supporting biodiverse spaces that have birdlife since this is strongly linked to mental health. The findings also support the implementation of measures to increase opportunities for people with mental health conditions such as depression to have access to areas with birdlife.
Over the past few years, mental health has become a topic of discussion and many studies. This new research offers a unique way for those with depression to check in on their mental health. Going outside and hearing birds may seem simple, but this new research can help those suffering from symptoms.
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