Cruz-Martinez, LuisHerve-Claude, Luis PabloGallagher, Chista AnnDzikiti, Loveness NyaradzoLittle, William Brady2024-11-072024-11-072024-07Cruz-Martinez, L., Hervé-Claude, L.P., Gallagher, C.A. et al. The role of exposure to nature in perceived stress by veterinary students. Discover Psychology 4, 83 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-024-00199-2.2731-4537 (online)10.1007/s44202-024-00199-2http://hdl.handle.net/2263/98968DATA AVAILABILITY : Supporting data generated from this research including analysis, results and raw information can be made available by the principal investigator where appropriate.Veterinary school is intense and represents a challenging time for students, and increasingly, veterinary students are being diagnosed with a variety of concerning mental health issues including stress, anxiety, and depression, often resulting in poor academic performance. Because of the disproportionately high risk of mental health problems in the veterinary field, it is important that students learn, understand, and utilize simple and effective techniques to cope with stress, and demands of the profession. Spending time in natural environments such as outdoor parks, green spaces, and urban forests is an effective strategy for improving mental health. In this study, we examined the self-reported effects of repeated, structured time in a nature-based intervention, vs a control group of veterinary students. Participants reported significantly lower perceived stress levels compared to a control group. Students overwhelmingly reported that they would recommend this stress reduction technique to their classmates, and they stated that they planned to continue spending time in nature to improve their mindset and reduce stress in the future.en© The Author(s) 2024. Open Access. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Veterinary student stressNatureNatural environmentGreen spaceSDG-03: Good health and well-beingArticle