Nature research may have concentrated too heavily on recovery from stress

Most studies in this review examined restoration after stress or mental strain. Far fewer tested whether natural environments could improve attention or well-being from a relatively neutral starting point.

The smaller group of studies reported encouraging effects, but the authors emphasize how limited that evidence remains. The review identifies a research gap rather than establishing a universal boost from every walk outdoors.

The distinction changes the question being asked. An environment might help someone return to a previous baseline, or it might build resources before a stressful event occurs. Those possibilities need different experimental designs. Understanding them could inform how green spaces are valued in daily life, beyond their role as occasional refuges after an exhausting day.