Citizen scientists can reduce anxiety by counting butterflies
Spending time in nature counting butterflies can reduce anxiety while a connectedness with nature can encourage conservation efforts.
Counting butterflies is good for your health; new research has revealed an almost 10% reduction in anxiety and improvements in mental wellbeing when citizen scientists take part in the Big Butterfly Count.
In the first-of-its-kind study, led by Butterfly Conservation and the University of Derby, found such activities also connect people with nature, which could be a vital step towards conservation success and nature recovery.
Reduction in anxiety
The study, conducted during the Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count in 2022, found briefly tuning into nature to count butterflies reduces anxiety by 9% on average, while also enhancing mental wellbeing.
Tens of thousands of participants across the UK, who spent 15 minutes in a sunny spot watching and counting common butterflies and day-flying moths, reported feeling of connectedness with nature, and noticing butterflies more often continued for six to seven weeks after taking part.
“While we have long known that there is a link between nature and human wellbeing, this study is the first to prove that the simple act of looking for and counting butterflies leads to a measurable decrease in anxiety,” says Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation. “The results suggest that citizen science projects such as the Big Butterfly Count can play a part in improving people’s mental health, as well as gathering important data on how butterflies are faring to inform our conservation work.”
Participants reported a range of positive and negative emotions, including joy, fascination, sadness, and concern; the latter driven by not seeing as many butterflies as they expected and fear over what is happening to our planet.
“Interestingly, the more intensely participants felt these emotions, the more their feeling of closeness to nature and noticing wildlife increased afterwards, with participants reporting they felt motivated to help butterflies and nature more, by doing things such as transforming their gardens into butterfly-friendly havens,” says Dr Carly Butler, a Researcher in Nature Connectedness at the University of Derby and lead researcher.
Connected to nature
Nature connectedness – how connected people feel to nature – is directly correlated to how motivated people are to protect it, with this study demonstrating how citizen science projects could play a vital role in nature’s recovery.
"Our study showed that even small periods of time spent watching and counting butterflies are beneficial, with the benefits of reduced anxiety and stronger nature connectedness being the same whether people carried out just one 15-minute count or took part multiple times,” says Butler. “This is key in proving that simple, small pockets of time connecting with wildlife and nature have a profound and beneficial effect on how we feel.”
“In order to save wildlife and ensure nature’s recovery we need people to care, and we know that being connected to nature sparks these caring feelings and a desire to do something positive,” says Fox. “This study indisputably shows that citizen science activities, such as spending just a few minutes counting butterflies, makes people feel more connected to nature – a vital step in the battle to save wildlife.
“We’re at a tipping point, nature is in crisis, but we can all do something to help,” Fox concludes. “Simple acts such as creating wild spaces to provide a haven for wildlife, or planting butterfly friendly plants in pots on a patio, terrace or balcony can have a positive impact.”