175
© The Author(s) 2019
M. R. Marselle et al. (eds.), Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate
Change, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02318-8_9
Chapter 9
Review of the Mental Health
and Well- being Benefits of Biodiversity
Melissa R. Marselle, Dörte Martens, Martin Dallimer,
and Katherine N. Irvine
Abstract Little is known about the contribution that biodiversity has on mental
health and well-being. To date, only one systematic review has investigated the
health and well-being benefits from contact with biodiversity (Lovell et al. J Toxicol
Environ Health B Crit Rev 17(1):1–20, 2014). The number of research studies
investigating the health and well-being effects of biodiversity has increased since
this publication. Here, we provide an update, focusing on the impact of biodiversity
on mental health and well-being. Our objectives are to: (i) identify and describe the
literature published after 2012; and (ii) synthesise all results from Lovell et al. (J
Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev 17(1):1–20, 2014) and the more recently published literature to assess whether biodiversity influences mental health and wellbeing. Sixteen recently published studies met the inclusion criteria. The literature
is varied with different study designs, measures of biodiversity, mental health and
well-being. The synthesis of results was drawn from 24 studies: nine from Lovell
et al. (J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev 17(1):1–20, 2014) and 15 identified by
this chapter. There is some evidence to suggest that biodiversity promotes better
M. R. Marselle (*)
Department of Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ,
Leipzig, Germany
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig,
Leipzig, Germany
e-mail: melissa.marselle@ufz.de
D. Martens
Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Eberswalde, Germany
e-mail: d.martens@hnee.de
M. Dallimer
Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds,
Leeds, UK
e-mail: m.dallimer@leeds.ac.uk
K. N. Irvine
Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Research Group, The James Hutton Institute,
Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
e-mail: katherine.irvine@hutton.ac.uk
© The Author(s) 2019
M. R. Marselle et al. (eds.), Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate
Change, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02318-8_9
Chapter 9
Review of the Mental Health
and Well- being Benefits of Biodiversity
Melissa R. Marselle, Dörte Martens, Martin Dallimer,
and Katherine N. Irvine
Abstract Little is known about the contribution that biodiversity has on mental
health and well-being. To date, only one systematic review has investigated the
health and well-being benefits from contact with biodiversity (Lovell et al. J Toxicol
Environ Health B Crit Rev 17(1):1–20, 2014). The number of research studies
investigating the health and well-being effects of biodiversity has increased since
this publication. Here, we provide an update, focusing on the impact of biodiversity
on mental health and well-being. Our objectives are to: (i) identify and describe the
literature published after 2012; and (ii) synthesise all results from Lovell et al. (J
Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev 17(1):1–20, 2014) and the more recently published literature to assess whether biodiversity influences mental health and wellbeing. Sixteen recently published studies met the inclusion criteria. The literature
is varied with different study designs, measures of biodiversity, mental health and
well-being. The synthesis of results was drawn from 24 studies: nine from Lovell
et al. (J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev 17(1):1–20, 2014) and 15 identified by
this chapter. There is some evidence to suggest that biodiversity promotes better
M. R. Marselle (*)
Department of Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ,
Leipzig, Germany
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig,
Leipzig, Germany
e-mail: melissa.marselle@ufz.de
D. Martens
Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Eberswalde, Germany
e-mail: d.martens@hnee.de
M. Dallimer
Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds,
Leeds, UK
e-mail: m.dallimer@leeds.ac.uk
K. N. Irvine
Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences Research Group, The James Hutton Institute,
Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
e-mail: katherine.irvine@hutton.ac.uk