Home›Psychiatry› Portable Digital Nature Experience significantly reduces stress, anxiety, and depression scores
Portable Digital Nature Experience significantly reduces stress, anxiety, and depression scoresDigital nature experiences help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression
Clinical psychology reviewPublished July 1, 2026Study authors: Zhou Yuhan, Hu Bo, Yang Shilei, Geng LiunaPubMed ↗DOI ↗Editorial oversight: Dr. Ji-eun Park, MD · Brain, Mind & Pain
AI-generated summary of the cited source, checked by automated accuracy review.
How we work
Share
Key Takeaway
Consider Portable Digital Nature Experience as a viable intervention to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
This meta-analysis evaluated the impact of Portable Digital Nature Experience (PDNE) on mental health outcomes, specifically stress, anxiety, and depression. The analysis included 2925 participants from 17 countries and regions. The study synthesized data across various conditions including multisensory, visual, and auditory components compared against active and treatment as usual controls.
Key findings indicate that PDNE significantly reduced stress (g = -0.51; 95% CI [-0.73, -0.28]; p <.001) and anxiety (g = -0.67; 95% CI [-1.01, -0.33]; p <.001). Depression also showed a significant reduction (g = -0.26; 95% CI [-0.51, -0.01]; p =.044), though the effect size for depression was lower than those observed for stress and anxiety.
Comparative analyses revealed that green space interventions were significantly more effective than mixed landscape (p =.008). For anxiety, auditory conditions performed significantly better than multisensory (p =.021) or visual (p =.011) conditions. Regarding depression, auditory conditions were significantly more effective than visual ones (p =.016). Active control groups also showed superior outcomes compared to treatment as usual (p =.028).
The authors suggest PDNE has potential for large-scale replication in settings where physical nature access is constrained. However, specific limitations were not explicitly stated in the abstract.
How this fits prior evidence
This meta-analysis addresses a gap in non-pharmacological interventions for mental health by evaluating digital alternatives to nature exposure. While previous coverage noted high depression prevalence (50.9%) in advanced cancer patients and the efficacy of esketamine for PPD, this study provides evidence that PDNE can specifically reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. It offers a potential scalable tool for managing symptoms like those seen in populations with limited mobility or access to green spaces.
When life feels overwhelming, finding a moment of peace can be hard to come by. New research looks at how we can use technology to bring the calming effects of nature into our daily lives. The study looked at people across 17 different countries to see if "Portable Digital Nature Experiences" (PDNE) could help manage mental health.
Researchers found that these digital experiences significantly reduced stress and anxiety levels. While the impact on depression was also significant, it was less pronounced than the improvements seen in stress and anxiety. The study specifically noted that scenes featuring green spaces were more effective for stress relief than mixed landscapes. Additionally, auditory elements—like nature sounds—performed better than just visual images for reducing both anxiety and depression.
This research is especially interesting because it suggests that digital tools can work when people cannot physically visit a park or forest. While the evidence shows these tools are effective, keep in mind that this was a meta-analysis of several studies rather than one single trial. It offers a promising way to use technology to support mental well-being in any setting.
What this means for you:
Digital nature experiences can significantly lower stress and anxiety, especially when they include green spaces or sounds.
Common questions
Can digital nature really help with my stress?
Yes, the study found a significant reduction in stress when using portable digital nature experiences. Specifically, scenes featuring green spaces were found to be more effective for reducing stress than mixed landscapes.
How does it affect anxiety and depression?
The research showed significant reductions in both anxiety and depression. However, the effect on depression was smaller than the effects seen for stress and anxiety. For anxiety, auditory conditions performed better than visual or multisensory ones.
Is it more effective to see nature or hear it?
The study found that auditory conditions (sounds) were significantly more effective at reducing both anxiety and depression compared to just seeing visual images of nature.
Nature experience has substantial benefits for restoring mental health, but the accessibility of nature has hindered the scalability of this strategy. The Portable Digital Nature Experience (PDNE) could offer an alternative solution. A total of 118 effect sizes from 36 randomized controlled trials were included, involving 2925 participants across 17 countries and regions. Results from the three-level meta-analysis indicate that PDNE significantly reduced three common mental health issues, including stress (g = -0.51; 95% CI [-0.73, -0.28]; p < .001), anxiety (g = -0.67; 95% CI [-1.01, -0.33]; p < .001), and depression (g = -0.26; 95% CI [-0.51, -0.01]; p = .044). In terms of reducing stress, the green space intervention was significantly more effective than the mixed landscape intervention (p = .008). Regarding anxiety, the auditory condition yielded significantly better results than the multisensory (p = .021) and visual (p = .011) conditions. Similarly, for depression, the auditory condition was significantly more effective than the visual condition (p = .016), and the Active Control Group demonstrated superior outcomes compared to the Treatment As Usual Control Group (p = .028). No significant differences were found in sample characteristics (sex composition, age distribution, clinical status), intervention content (duration of intervention), or study characteristics (research context, measurement indicator, and measurement time). This study demonstrates that PDNE can be effective in alleviating mental health problems and has the potential for large-scale replication. In scenarios where nature experience is constrained, it is hoped that the benefits of PDNE will advance social equity.
