Green Exercise and Mental Health
Chapter from the book:
İlhan,
E.
L.
(ed.)
2024.
Different Paradigms in The Field of Sport Sciences-I.
Synopsis
Countries around the world are facing a range of health challenges. These health problems include lifestyle-related non-chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer and obesity. The main reasons for this situation are thought to be due to sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets and increased calorie intake. At the same time, individuals are exposed to adverse conditions such as increased work intensity, destruction of natural environments, urban development, climate change, air and water pollution, which have caused them to adopt unhealthy lifestyles. On the other hand, studies emphasize that doing physical activity in areas with easy access to green space is important for individuals to gain both social and healthy behaviors. It is known that as the distance from green areas to residences increases, the possibility of being physically active decreases. Especially in the Covid-19 pandemic experienced in recent years, there are studies on the existence of negative effects on the mental and spiritual health of individuals. It is seen that hobby gardens have gained importance after this period. It has been observed that interaction with the natural environment has positive effects not only for normal individuals but also for individuals with special needs in terms of adaptation, communication skills and ease of adaptation.