Examining connection to nature and mindfulness at promoting psychological well-being

Mindfulness and Shinrin-Yoku: Potential for Physiological and Psychological Interventions during Uncertain Times

“…The number of subjects in the studies ranged from 21 to 360 with a mean age range between 20.67 and 55 years. The studies not reporting mean age ranges were conducted in a university setting [ 60 ], or a work setting [ 61 ]. All the research studies measured mindfulness and emotional health outcomes.…”

“…Two of the studies did not include a connection or relationship with nature questionnaire [ 61 , 62 ] though the studies took place in an outdoor setting. The studies included both survey [ 60 , 63 , 64 ] and interventional [ 61 , 62 , 65 ] studies. All studies used convenience sampling and one study did have a small control group [ 61 ].…”

“…The purpose of three of the studies was to determine the relationship between nature, mindfulness, and psychological wellbeing outcomes [ 60 , 63 , 64 ]. The remaining study purposes were to examine the effects of mindfulness training within an outdoor nature environment [ 61 , 62 , 65 ].…”

“…Two studies discussed the positive benefits of mindfulness training in nature with the reduction of the burden of illness related to the intervention [ 61 , 62 ] by as much as 40% [ 61 ]. Specific psychological conditions such as anxiety, depression, and psychological stress showed significant benefits from mindfulness in nature [ 60 , 65 ]. Connection or relatedness to nature scores was correlated to an increase in mindfulness [ 60 , 63 , 64 ] and measures psychological wellbeing [ 60 , 63 , 64 , 65 ].…”

Nature exposure and positive body image: (Re-)examining the mediating roles of connectedness to nature and trait mindfulness

“…Swami et al (2019) provide the following example, which is of rel-evance here: while it seems likely that nature exposure serves as an antecedent of body appreciation, it is also possible that individuals with greater body appreciation seek out and engage in body-care activities, such as spending time in nature. Similarly, while it is possible that higher mindful awareness promotes greater connectedness to nature, the opposite causal route is also possible (Huynh & Torquati, 2019). Future longitudinal research may be useful to better understand causal relationships, although it should be noted that experimental research does suggest that exposure to real and simulated nature is effective at elevating state indices of positive body image (Rosenberg et al, 2014;Swami, 2020b;Swami, Pickering et al, 2018).…”