The Effect of Nature-Based Adventure Interventions on Depression: A Systematic Review

Abstract

We conducted a systematic review to synthesize evidence of the effect of nature-based adventure (NBA) interventions on depressive symptoms. Our search was conducted in April 2021 and utilized the following databases: MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Clinicaltrials.gov. Forty-two studies ( n = 2,689 participants) with different designs, published between 1979 and 2021, were included. Collectively, results suggest highly variable effects of NBA interventions on depressive symptoms, ranging from reductions in mean depression scores of up to 64% to increases in means scores of up to 18%. Patient adherence to interventions was also variable, and serious adverse events (e.g., leg fractures) did occur. Despite variability across studies, research generally showed that mountain-based and surfing interventions, coupled with other forms of care, may substantially reduce adults’ depressive symptoms more than usual care alone or no intervention, highlighting the potential benefits of some NBA activities for individuals experiencing depressive symptoms.

The effects of nature-based interventions on individuals’ environmental behaviors: protocol for a systematic review of controlled trials

“…For instance, human exposure to natural environments is associated with lower levels of stress (Thompson et al, 2012), fewer depressive symptoms (Reklaitiene et al, 2014), better perceived general and mental health (DeVries et al, 2013), children's cognitive development (Dadvand et al, 2015) and well-being (Brussoni et al, 2017), and lower risk of psychiatric disorders later in life (Engemann et al, 2019). Such findings and many others are summarized in a growing number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (see, for example, Van den Berg et al, 2015;Tillmann et al, 2018;Corazon et al, 2019;Norwood et al, 2019;Roberts et al, 2019;Weeland et al, 2019;Coventry et al, 2021;Mygind et al, 2021;Rosa et al, 2021Rosa et al, , 2023bMann et al, 2022;Moll et al, 2022). The synthesized evidence points to the importance of promoting individuals' experiences with their natural surroundings to enhance their well-being.…”

“Nature Environments Without Actually Being There”: Virtual Recreation Experiences and Real-World Intentions

“…Outdoor recreation offers numerous mental and physical health benefits (Rakow & Eells, 2019). Particularly for college students, outdoor recreation can provide beneficial outcomes to alleviate depression, anxiety, and hopelessness (Ewert & Davidson, 2021;Puhakka, 2021;Rosa et al, 2023). Despite these benefits, young adults participate in outdoor recreation activities far less than older individuals (Outdoor Foundation, 2022).…”