与大自然的亲密接触也会让孩子们更快乐
There's plenty of research demonstrating the link between being in nature and being happy, but most of the research has focused on adults.
有很多研究证明了生活在大自然和快乐之间的联系，但大多数研究都集中在成年人身上。
In a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, researchers wanted to see if kids reap the same feel-good benefits from being in the great outdoors.
在《心理学前沿》杂志上发表的一项新研究中，研究人员想看看孩子们是否也能从户外活动中获得同样的愉悦感。
A little girl plays in the woods in her yellow raincoat. Yulai Studio/Shutterstock
For the study, researchers worked with 296 children between the ages of 9 and 12 in a northwestern Mexican city. To measure how connected they were to nature, the kids were asked how much they enjoying activities like seeing wildflowers and wild animals, hearing sounds of nature and touching animals and plants.
在这项研究中，研究人员对墨西哥西北部一个城市的296名9到12岁的儿童进行了研究。为了衡量他们与大自然的联系程度，孩子们被问及他们有多喜欢看野花和野生动物、听大自然的声音、触摸动植物等活动。
The researchers also measured the children's attitudes toward sustainable behaviors by making statements that addressed concepts of altruism, equity, frugality and pro-ecological behavior to determine how much they agreed with them. The statements involved activities like giving away used clothing, helping those who are hurt, saving water and recycling.
研究人员还通过陈述利他主义、公平、节俭和亲生态行为的概念来衡量孩子们对可持续行为的态度，以确定他们对这些概念的认同程度。这些声明涉及的活动包括捐赠旧衣服，帮助受伤的人，节约用水和循环利用。
The statements that had the highest links with connectedness in nature were "picking up trash from the ground can help the environment," "taking care of animals is important," and "human beings are part of the natural world."
“从地上捡垃圾有助于保护环境”、“照顾动物很重要”和“人类是自然世界的一部分”是与大自然联系最紧密的语句。
The researchers found that the kids who saw themselves connected to nature were more likely to act sustainably. Also, the more concerned they were about the environment and nature, the more likely they were to say they were happy.
研究人员发现，自认为与大自然有联系的孩子更有可能采取可持续的行动。而且，他们越关心环境和自然，就越有可能说自己快乐。
Why connectedness to nature is important
为什么与自然的联系很重要
The researchers acknowledge that the study was limited in that it only tested children from the same city and might not be representative of other groups. However, the researchers say that findings "provide insight into the power of positive psychology of sustainability in children."
研究人员承认，这项研究的局限性在于，它只测试了来自同一城市的儿童，可能不能代表其他群体。然而，研究人员表示，这些发现“为儿童可持续性的积极心理学的力量提供了洞见。”
Explaining the motivation behind the study, they write, "Given the environmental problems humanity is currently facing, and considering that the future of the planet lies in the hands of children and their actions, research on the determinants of sustainable behaviors in children has become more relevant; nonetheless, studies on this topic focusing on children are scarce."
在解释这项研究背后的动机时，他们写道:“考虑到人类目前面临的环境问题，并考虑到地球的未来掌握在儿童和他们的行动手中，研究儿童可持续行为的决定因素变得更加重要;然而，针对儿童这一主题的研究却很少。”
The researchers note that with environmental issues such as global warming, deforestation and species extinction, more studies are focusing on the relationships between humans and nature to find solutions to these threats. They cite research about "nature-deficit disorder" to describe a lack of connectedness that children often feel about the natural world.
研究人员指出，随着全球变暖、森林砍伐和物种灭绝等环境问题的出现，越来越多的研究开始关注人类与自然的关系，以找到解决这些威胁的方法。他们引用了关于“自然缺失症”的研究来描述孩子们对自然世界缺乏联系的感觉。
Because young people are the "future custodians of the planet," researchers are working to learn how to promote sustainable behaviors and encourage environmental concern in children.
因为年轻人是“地球未来的监护人”，研究人员正在努力学习如何促进可持续行为，鼓励儿童关注环境问题。
Nature for adults
大自然对成年人的影响
Adults set examples for their kids when it comes to nature appreciation. vvvita/Shutterstock
So much research has focused on how being in nature can have benefits for adult well-being.
很多研究都集中在研究生活在大自然中对成年人的健康有什么好处。
Studies have shown that walking among trees makes us relaxed, nicer people. Even just smelling the trees helps ease anxiety. The more green space in a neighborhood, the happier people say they are. One study even found that walking in a park can give you the same feel-good sensations as Christmas.
研究表明，在树林中散步能使我们放松，成为更友善的人。即使只是闻一下树木也能帮助缓解焦虑。一个社区的绿色空间越多，人们说他们越快乐。一项研究甚至发现，在公园散步可以给你带来和圣诞节一样的感觉。
In one study, researchers even tried to identify the most effective "dose" of nature within the context of normal daily life. They found that spending 20-30 minutes outdoors soaking in nature was the prescription for health and happiness.
在一项研究中，研究人员甚至试图确定日常生活中大自然最有效的“剂量”。他们发现，花20-30分钟泡在户外的大自然中是健康和快乐的良方。
And when adults are outside and appreciate nature, kids learn by example.
当成年人在户外欣赏大自然时，孩子们会效仿。
"Children need role models ... who can gently guide them to nature with excitement, optimism and an attitude of a lifelong learner," Miyuki Maruping, a gardening teacher at the Waldorf School of Atlanta, tells CNN, commenting on the newest study.
“孩子们需要榜样……能够带着兴奋、乐观和终身学习者的态度温和地引导孩子接近大自然，”亚特兰大华尔道夫学校的园艺老师Miyuki Maruping在评论最新研究时说。
"We don't have to be experts in environmental science or nature studies. What's more important is that we spend time together with children by exploring curiosity in a fun and safe environment."
“我们不必成为环境科学或自然研究方面的专家。更重要的是，我们要花时间和孩子们在一起，在一个有趣、安全的环境中探索他们的好奇心。”
