SMT

 A recent large U.S. study found that people living in neighborhoods with more tree cover tended to show lower biological markers of chronic stress. The researchers analyzed data from more than 40,000 adults and linked neighborhood tree canopy levels with “allostatic load,” a measure of long-term stress on the body.  

Key findings included:

• More neighborhood trees were associated with lower chronic stress scores.
• Physical activity partly explained the connection, since greener neighborhoods encouraged people to spend more time outside and move more.
• The benefits were not distributed equally: the association was strongest for white and Hispanic participants and for higher-income groups, while the same clear benefit was not observed for Black Americans or lower-income individuals.  

Researchers suggested that broader social stressors — including discrimination, economic pressure, and historical inequities in urban planning — may reduce or overshadow the mental-health benefits of greener environments for some communities.  

This aligns with earlier research showing that urban greenery and street trees are linked with:

• lower perceived stress,
• fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression,
• improved wellbeing,
• and even lower antidepressant use in some cities.  

The broader idea is sometimes called “tree equity” — ensuring that all neighborhoods, not just wealthier ones, have meaningful access to green spaces and tree canopy.