According to The Huffington Post, veterans who spend some time with Mother Nature may improve their health in more ways than one.

Researchers from the University of Michigan invited 98 veterans to spend several days camping and hiking among other outdoor activities. The participants, more than half of whom suffered from one form of illness or another, were observed a week before, and a week and a month after the event to see if the experience would have any effect on their psyche.

The results showed that participation in group outdoor recreation improved the subjects’ psychological well-being by 10 percent, their social functioning by nine percent, and their life outlook by eight percent.

Of course, this effect does not only apply to older adults. Regular individuals who deal with stress constantly will find that spending time outdoors may not only boost mental performance but also promote overall well-being.

(Photo by tiggerbone via Flickr Creative Commons)