How Urban Nature Nurtures a Deeper Sense of Well-Being

Redacción HC
12/09/2025

In an age of accelerating urbanization, the question of how city dwellers find purpose, balance, and fulfillment is more relevant than ever. Parks, riversides, and green corridors are often seen as lungs of the city or stress-relief zones. But new research suggests they do much more: they help people connect with themselves and others in profound ways.

A study published in People and Nature (Järekari et al., 2025) reveals that urban nature not only improves mood and reduces stress but also fosters eudaimonic well-being—a form of deep flourishing rooted in purpose, growth, and meaningful relationships. This perspective goes beyond immediate happiness to explore how nature cultivates long-term human development and social cohesion.

Understanding Eudaimonic Well-Being

Most existing research has examined nature’s hedonic benefits: relaxation, joy, and stress reduction. But the Finnish research team asked a broader question: how does urban nature contribute to eudaimonia—the sense of living an authentic, purposeful, and fulfilling life?

Drawing on psychologist Carol Ryff’s six dimensions of well-being—self-acceptance, purpose in life, personal growth, positive relations, autonomy, and environmental mastery—the study explored how cultural ecosystem services (non-material benefits we gain from nature) align with these dimensions.

Methodology: Maps and Narratives

The research combined quantitative and qualitative approaches in what the authors describe as a “qualitatively dominated mixed-methods design.”

• Spatial survey (PPGIS): Young people (15–24 years) and older adults (60+) mapped urban sites they frequented and explained the values and activities tied to those places.
• Creative writing exercise: Participants wrote personal narratives about their experiences with urban nature, which researchers then analyzed for themes of authenticity, growth, purpose, and connection.

This dual approach allowed researchers to see both the spatial patterns of valued sites and the lived experiences behind them.

Key Findings: Nature as a Mirror of the Self and Society

The results reveal that both younger and older groups derive eudaimonic benefits from urban nature, though in different ways.

• Young people often valued open, less densely vegetated spaces that encouraged sociability, identity formation, and shared meaning.
• Older adults favored greener, more stable environments that evoked continuity, reflection, and a sense of permanence.

Despite these differences, both groups found nature to be a setting for:

• Self-connection and authenticity – reflecting on personal values and identity.
• Purpose and meaning – drawing motivation and clarity from time spent in green spaces.
• Personal growth – opportunities for learning, creativity, and inner development.
• Positive relationships – building social ties and intergenerational bonds.
• Continuity and stability – finding comfort in the enduring rhythms of nature.

The study also highlighted an important caveat: the ecological crisis can erode these benefits. Awareness of environmental degradation or biodiversity loss sometimes triggered anxiety, diminishing the sense of continuity that nature usually provides.

Practical Implications for Urban Policy and Design

The research carries significant lessons for policymakers, urban planners, and community leaders:

1. Quality matters, not just quantity. The impact of green spaces should be evaluated not only by size but also by the quality of the experiences they provide.
2. Inclusive design. Cities need a variety of natural settings—from quiet, contemplative gardens to lively social parks—accessible to people of all ages.
3. New indicators. Urban planning should incorporate eudaimonic indicators into the evaluation of ecosystem services.
4. Citizen participation. Tools like participatory mapping (PPGIS) can help identify sites of deep cultural and emotional value.
5. Public awareness campaigns. Encouraging citizens to see nature as a place for reflection, intergenerational dialogue, and long-term growth can enhance social well-being.

By reframing urban nature as a driver of eudaimonic well-being, the study expands the rationale for protecting and designing green spaces—not only for physical health or climate regulation but also for human flourishing.

Conclusion: Flourishing in the City

The findings of Järekari and colleagues shed light on an underexplored dimension of urban life: the capacity of nature to nurture deep, lasting well-being. In a time when mental health and social cohesion are pressing concerns, urban nature emerges as more than a luxury—it is a necessity for cultivating purpose, growth, and connection.

The authors encourage further studies in regions beyond Northern Europe, particularly in Latin America, where plazas, riversides, and small forest patches may play similar roles, albeit within more unequal urban contexts.

Ultimately, this research calls for a shift in how we value green spaces: not only as recreational or ecological assets but as essential infrastructures for human meaning and resilience.

Topics of interest

Health