Plants and Poverty

A study conducted by Frances E. Kuo Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

With funding from The USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service The USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service The USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program on the recommendation of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council

Take home message

Having nature near home helps inner-city residents cope. Take home message

Presentation outline Why Study Plants and Poverty? Why Study Plants and Poverty? The Approach The Approach The Findings The Findings So What? So What?

Why Study Plants and Poverty?

People often feel energized after spending time in nature.

Scientists have begun testing nature’s ability to enhance effectiveness.

Spending time in nature does enhance performance on a variety of tasks.

One explanation for this improvement comes from Attention Restoration Theory One explanation for this improvement comes from Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan, S. 1995)

According to Attention Restoration Theory Nature is engaging, so attracts our attention effortlessly.Nature is engaging, so attracts our attention effortlessly. This allows deliberate attention to rest.This allows deliberate attention to rest. Restored deliberate attention is then available when needed.Restored deliberate attention is then available when needed.

Could greenery be used to help people cope with the problems of poverty?

Most prior research on nature and effectiveness has used large amounts of naturelarge amounts of nature

Most prior research on nature and effectiveness has used large amounts of naturelarge amounts of nature artificial, simple tests and problemsartificial, simple tests and problems

But poor, inner-city neighborhoods are often barren.

And, inner-city residents have problems that are large and complex: povertypoverty unemploymentunemployment violenceviolence demands of single parenthooddemands of single parenthood

Can exposure to small amounts of nature lead to better coping? Better attention More nearby nature Effective coping with major issues

The Approach

buildings are similar; only the quantity of nearby vegetation differsbuildings are similar; only the quantity of nearby vegetation differs The Robert Taylor Homes were chosen as a research site because

buildings are similar; only the quantity of nearby vegetation differsbuildings are similar; only the quantity of nearby vegetation differs residents are randomly assigned to buildingsresidents are randomly assigned to buildings The Robert Taylor Homes were chosen as a research site because

buildings are similar; only the quantity of nearby vegetation differsbuildings are similar; only the quantity of nearby vegetation differs residents are randomly assigned to buildingsresidents are randomly assigned to buildings residents have similar characteristicsresidents have similar characteristics The Robert Taylor Homes were chosen as a research site because

The participants were 145 residents African-American female heads of household145 residents African-American female heads of household

The participants were 145 residents African-American female heads of household145 residents African-American female heads of household from 18 buildings that varied along the full range of amount of nearby naturefrom 18 buildings that varied along the full range of amount of nearby nature

The participants were 145 residents African-American female heads of household145 residents African-American female heads of household from 18 buildings that varied along the full range of amount of nearby naturefrom 18 buildings that varied along the full range of amount of nearby nature recruited by interviewers going door-to-doorrecruited by interviewers going door-to-door

Method The 18 buildings were categorized as being either high or low in nearby nature.The 18 buildings were categorized as being either high or low in nearby nature.

Robert Taylor Homes without trees (barren) Robert Taylor Homes with trees (green)

Method The 18 buildings were categorized as being either high or low in nearby nature.The 18 buildings were categorized as being either high or low in nearby nature. Residents’ attention capacity was measured.Residents’ attention capacity was measured.

Method The 18 buildings were categorized as being either high or low in nearby nature.The 18 buildings were categorized as being either high or low in nearby nature. Residents’ attention capacity was measured.Residents’ attention capacity was measured. Residents’ success at managing their major life issues was measured.Residents’ success at managing their major life issues was measured.

The Findings

the challenges of coping with povertythe challenges of coping with poverty coping with violencecoping with violence raising children under conditions of povertyraising children under conditions of poverty Three themes emerged repeatedly as major life issues in the interviews:

Was better attention related to living in a building with greener surroundings? Better attention Exposure to nature (Living in building with green surroundings) (Performance on attention task)

Residents in greener buildings had better attention Mean number correct on attention measure More correct = more attention restoration Green buildings Barren buildings

Was better coping related to living in a building with greener surroundings? More nearby nature Better coping

Reported neglect of major life issues a little neglected quite neglected somewhat neglected greenbarren Residents in green buildings neglect their issues less Greenness rating of residence Less neglect = greater effectiveness

Reported difficulty of major life issues a little difficult quite difficult somewhat difficult To residents in green buildings, issues seem less difficult greenbarren Greenness rating of residence Less difficult = greater effectiveness

Reported duration of major life issues a little longstanding quite longstanding somewhat longstanding Residents in green buildings may solve their issues faster greenbarren Greenness rating of residence Shorter duration = greater effectiveness

Reported severity of major life issues somewhat severe very severe quite severe Residents in green buildings find their issues less threatening greenbarren Greenness rating of residence Less severe = greater effectiveness

less neglectedless neglected less difficultless difficult briefer in durationbriefer in duration less severeless severe Residents of green buildings are coping better. They report that the most important issues in their lives are:

So What?

Living in poverty can sap the energy people need to address their most important problems.

Nature near home helps to reduce mental fatigue, thus improving the ability to cope.

Countless programs to help people overcome poverty have produced no detectable effects.

Greenery is an effective, low-cost tool to help people cope better.

Contact with greenery may be as important to psychological health as eating greens is to physical health!

Prescriptions for effective coping: Spend time in green, natural settings, especially when life becomes demanding.Spend time in green, natural settings, especially when life becomes demanding.

Prescriptions for effective coping: Spend time in green, natural settings, especially when life becomes demanding.Spend time in green, natural settings, especially when life becomes demanding. Become involved in community gardening and planting.Become involved in community gardening and planting.

Prescriptions for effective coping: Spend time in green, natural settings, especially when life becomes demanding.Spend time in green, natural settings, especially when life becomes demanding. Become involved in community gardening and planting.Become involved in community gardening and planting. Stay near a window with a green view when indoors.Stay near a window with a green view when indoors.

Suggestions for city planners, policymakers, and developers: Plant and maintain trees where people can see them.Plant and maintain trees where people can see them.

Suggestions for city planners, policymakers, and developers: Plant and maintain trees where people can see them.Plant and maintain trees where people can see them. Encourage the creation of green spaces and resident-based greening efforts.Encourage the creation of green spaces and resident-based greening efforts.

Suggestions for city planners, policymakers, and developers: Plant and maintain trees where people can see them.Plant and maintain trees where people can see them. Encourage the creation of green spaces and resident-based greening efforts.Encourage the creation of green spaces and resident-based greening efforts. Promote recess in green schoolyards.Promote recess in green schoolyards.

Caring for trees means caring for people!

To share this information with others Copies of this presentation and other, written materials for nonscientific audiences may be obtained at Copies of this presentation and other, written materials for nonscientific audiences may be obtained at To quote this information in print, please consult the original scientific journal article: To quote this information in print, please consult the original scientific journal article: Kuo, F.E. (2001). Coping with poverty: Impacts of environment and attention in the inner city. Environment and Behavior 33(1), Available at

On details of the original study Kuo, F.E. (2001). Coping with poverty: Impacts of environment and attention in the inner city. Environment and Behavior 33(1), On restorative effects of nature (historical) Olmstead, F.L. (1968). The value and care of parks. In R. Nash (Ed.), The American environment: Readings in the history of conservation (pp ). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. (Original work published 1865). Thoreau, H.D. (1995). Walden: An annotated edition. Boston: Houghton- Mifflin. (Original work published 1892). On attention restoration theory Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15(3), To learn more:

On nature and attention restoration (research) Faber Taylor, A., Kuo, F.E., & Sullivan, W.C. (2001). Coping with ADD: The surprising connection to green play settings. Environment & Behavior, 33(1), Kaplan, R. (1984). Wilderness perception and psychological benefits: An analysis of a continuing program. Leisure Sciences, 6(3), Tennessen, C., Cimprich, B. (1995). Views to nature: Effects on attention: Journal of Enivronmental Psychology, 15, On programs to help overcome poverty Cisneros, H.G. (1995). Defensible space: Deterring crime and building community (Report No. 2). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. To learn more:

Other questions? Contact Frances E. Kuo, Ph.D. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Landscape and Human Health Laboratory 1103 S. Dorner Drive, MC-636 Urbana IL 61801