The Effects of Contact With Nature During Outdoor Environmental Education on Students’ Wellbeing, Connectedness to Nature and Pro-sociality

Abstract

Experiences of contact with nature in school education might be beneficial for promoting ecological lifestyles and the wellbeing of children, families, and teachers. Many theories and empirical evidence on restorative environments, as well as on the foundations of classical pedagogical approaches, recognize the value of the direct experience with natural elements, and the related psychological and educational outcomes (e.g., positive emotions, autonomy, self-efficacy, empathy). In this work we present two studies focusing on the contact with nature in outdoor education interventions with primary and secondary school students in Italy. A questionnaire measuring connectedness to nature, psycho-physical wellbeing, pro-environmental attitudes, students’ life satisfaction, pro-social behavior, empathy and anxiety was completed before and after the education program by the participants to the intervention group and by students of a control group. The students in the intervention groups (154 in study 1 and 170 in study 2) participated in environmental education programs consisting in guided activities in contact with the nature during four visits in one of two natural protected areas. The students in the control groups (253 in study 1 and 168 in study 2) attended the same schools as the intervention group but they were not involved in the environmental education program. The students in both the groups completed the questionnaire in the same weeks of the year. Findings show that taking part to the outdoor education program has positive outcomes on psycho-physical wellbeing, on connectedness to nature and on pro-social behavior of students in the intervention group, compared to the control group. The implications related to the effectiveness of outdoor education interventions and future directions of research and practice in environmental psychology and education are discussed.

The Potential for Outdoor Nature-Based Interventions in the Treatment and Prevention of Depression

“…Perhaps one of the most striking potential features of contact with nature, and sharing some commonality with other ‘lifestyle’ factors, are the seemingly pleiotropic beneficial health effects it may have on general health ( Cox et al, 2017 ), including but not limited to improved birth outcomes ( Dzhambov et al, 2014 ; Twohig-Bennett and Jones, 2018 ), asthma and allergies ( Cavaleiro Rufo et al, 2021 ), improved immune functioning ( Li et al, 2008 ; Li and Kawada, 2011 ; Hall and Knuth, 2019 ), diabetes ( Brown et al, 2016 ; Thiering et al, 2016 ; Tsai et al, 2021 ), lowering blood pressure ( Shanahan et al, 2016 ), reduction in pain perception acutely ( Lechtzin et al, 2010 ) and chronically ( Wells et al, 2019 ), improving postoperative recovery ( Park and Mattson, 2009 ) and reduced mortality ( James et al, 2016 ; Crouse et al, 2017 ). Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest beneficial effects on a number of possible mechanisms of action implicated in the aetiology and pathophysiology of depression, including reducing stress ( Yao et al, 2021 ), inflammation ( Stier-Jarmer et al, 2021 ) and obesity ( Schalkwijk et al, 2018 ), improving wellbeing ( Martin et al, 2020 ; Pritchard et al, 2020 ; Pirchio et al, 2021 ) and improved sleep ( Shin et al, 2020 ). Coupled with the emerging literature that provides promising evidence suggesting a benefit for depression ( Hossain et al, 2020 ; Olafsdottir et al, 2020 ; Williams et al, 2020 ; Antonelli et al, 2021 ; Rosa et al, 2021 ; Stier-Jarmer et al, 2021 ), NBIs appear to be a viable strategy to pursue in mitigating the personal, social and societal burden of depression.…”

Psychological Adjustment, Quality of Life and Well-Being in a German and Portuguese Adult Population During COVID-19 Pandemics Crisis

“…On the other hand, these results indicate that young participants show more anxiety as a trait, more difficulty to relax and higher health care (using masks, maintaining social distancing, and washing frequently the hands), suggesting that, during COVID-19 pandemics crisis, young adults show a lower psychological adjustment associated to lower levels of quality of life, well-being, quality of sleep, and optimism than other age groups, a fact that has been observed in other recent studies on the psychological adjustment during pandemic (Lin et al, 2020). One more possible explanation for these results is the fact, found by Pirchio et al (2021), that the lack of contact with nature seems to affect especially young people.…”

“…Horesh and Brown (2020) and Tull et al (2020) found that the effects of lockdown differs from person to person-those who appreciate to be at home may enjoy it, but others may feel frightening the lack of human interaction. For instance, Pirchio et al (2021) point to the importance of contact with nature, especially in the case of young people, for promoting the wellbeing, i.e., the lack of outdoor experiences can be a very important in triggering mental health problems. So, COVID-19 is testing the way of life of people all around the world, raising questions on quality of life, and well-being, threat feelings, empathy and prosocial attitude, health care, sleep quality, and optimism, whose answer may be different in different groups of population and in different countries (Bidzan-Bluma et al, 2020).…”

An Exploration of How Biophilic Attributes on Campuses Might Support Student Connectedness to Nature, Others, and Self

“…There is a need to recast the role of university campus landscapes within a learning ecosystem through educational and leisure outdoor activities ( Scholl and Gulwadi, 2018 ). Taking part in outdoor education programs has positive outcomes on students’ psycho-physical well-being, connectedness to nature, and pro-social behavior ( Pirchio et al, 2021 ).…”