Houseplants enhance mental and emotional health

A recent study from Urban Forestry & Urban Greening showed positive links between houseplant ownership and mental and emotional well-being, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Due to the increase in workload, responsibilities and societal pressures, college students are consequently faced with various mental health challenges when meeting deadlines and preparing for future career steps. 

According to a 2018 study from Depression and Anxiety by Harvard Medical School, one in four college students were diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Many students reported suffering from anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation.

Research suggests that mental illnesses hinder both the academic and social performance of students, as it takes a toll on their energy, concentration and dependability. Additionally, according to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, depression and anxiety are directly linked with lower grade point averages and a higher risk of dropping out of school. 

Owning houseplants can reduce the feelings of anxiety and stress that students face. A study showed that owning houseplants correlated with positive emotional well-being, while negative emotions prevailed amongst people residing in spaces without any plants or greenery. 

“Plants also give people feelings of safety and comfort, which can be important for students dealing with anxiety from deadlines, high expectations and new surroundings,” said Lawren Sack, a plant physiology professor at UCLA. “Because many students live away from their families, plants can give students a makeshift family.” 

These effects have been supported by strong evidence from a variety of studies, including one published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology. This study revealed that actively interacting with plants promotes comfortable and soothed feelings. 

"There have been many pieces of evidence related to human stress reduction by nature with plants or by plants," said Dr. Masahiro Toyoda, a horticultural therapy specialist at the University of Hyogo. 

Interacting with plants has been proven to reduce psychological stress by influencing sympathetic nervous system activity. The sympathetic nervous system triggers the body’s “fight-or-flight” response to situations perceived as stressful. 

The sympathetic nervous system, along with the parasympathetic nervous system, make up the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary bodily functions.

A study from the Journal of Physiological Anthropology showed that indoor plants positively affect the autonomic nervous system by suppressing sympathetic activity, which typically increases when the body is exposed to stressors. 

Simple activities such as potting soil can help decrease anxiety, as soil contains M. vaccae microbes that function as natural antidepressants. 

 "It boosts your mood by releasing cytokines, which then leads your brain to produce more serotonin,” said Joey Doherty, a certified wellness counselor from Columbus, Ohio. “So, just by being around soil, these ‘outdoorphins’ flood your body and boost your mood.” 

Beyond stress reduction and heightened feelings of happiness, studies have also shown that owning plants is associated with increased relaxation. 

“Greenery literally physically relaxes you,” said Leigh Stringer, director of innovation and research at HOK. “Even with a fake plant, your mind goes back to the Savannah.”

The stress-reducing and relaxing benefits of owning plants have been especially highlighted during COVID-19 lockdown, a time during which mental health problems spiked. 

The Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll found that 64% of households with a healthcare worker reported at least one adverse impact on mental well-being. Plants have been particularly appealing for people coping during the pandemic. 

“A lot of people don’t have friends and family with them, a lot of people are quite alone,” said Rebecca Deighan, a certified therapist from California State University. “We’re in unusual circumstances and people are having a hard time feeling grounded. Plants are grounding.”