A study involving more than 2,000 UK adults published in the International Journal of Wellbeing indicates activities and engagement which help form ‘a close-connected relationship’ to nature appear to play a more substantial role.
Researchers focussed on how wellbeing was related to five nature-related factors:
Study authors said: ‘By not being tuned into the nature around us, our lives are poorer for it in terms of happiness and meaning.
‘Tuning in to nature is not about time, not about minutes. It is about moments. Feeling connected to nature and engaging in certain simple activities in nature seem to be more predictive of mental wellbeing than time spent in nature.’
Report authors
They go on to say their work shows the importance of providing gardens for rest and relaxation and that urban planners should plant trees and flowers along streets to bring nature to all residents.
Researchers say their study has important implications for mental health practitioners as focusing solely on ‘dosage’ of time in nature can drive policy at the expense of a more ‘rounded approach’.
Read more here.
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