TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — Even though we are seeing warmer temperatures there are still great times to get outside and enjoy areas like national parks.
Research shows that being in the great outdoors can be great for you at any age.
Nancy Eldredge is a psychologist that lives here in Tucson and says that being outdoors can have a healing effect on your psyche.
This was instilled in her at an early age.
“My dad was a real enthusiast and a rock hound so I would go with him rockhounding and it’s also weather related because rivers were where we were looking for the rocks.”
According to the American psychological association, spending time in nature is associated with increases in happiness, subjective well-being, and positive social interactions along with a sense of meeting and purpose in life.
Because of this Nancy is trying to expand wilderness education in Tucson.
Eldredge continued, “I’ve also been very interested in wilderness education and have participated in conferences in that field. I like to help people go into nature in order to help them heal their mental health issues or their emotional issues.”
Spending time in nature is also linked with decreases in mental distress according to a 2019 study by Science advances.