More on Nature Benefits!

Phillips and colleagues report on experiences during the COVID pandemic: “we examine which types of nature engagement (i.e. with nearby nature, through nature excursions and media-based) are more strongly associated with well-being. . . . Overall, nature engagement was a consistent predictor of well-being, but different types of activities predicted varying outcomes. . . . Greater engagement with nearby nature during the pandemic was associated with less rumination, less pandemic emotional impact and better mental health while nature excursions (e.g. camping, backpacking) and media-based nature engagement were associated with greater loneliness, more emotional impact from the pandemic and worse mental health. In addition, nature engagement via media was associated with greater rumination. Our findings suggest that promoting opportunities to increase engagement with and access to nearby nature is associated with better human well-being, especially during challenging events, and should be part of a multi-pronged approach for coping with the next public health crisis.”

Tina Phillips, Nancy Wells, Abigail Brown, Jordan Tralins, and David Bonter.  2023. “Nature and Well-Being:  The Association of Nature Engagement and Well-Being During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.”  People and Nature,https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10433