The Benefits of Being Rooted in Nature
Aimed at integrating cutting-edge psychological science into the classroom, columns about teaching Current Directions in Psychological Science offer advice and how-to guidance about teaching a particular area of research or topic in psychological science that has been the focus of an article in the APS journal Current Directions in Psychological Science.
“But in every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.” —John Muir, Steep Trails
Consider this: You have a friend who is behind on some deadlines, and her mind is racing. She has guests coming into town next week and hasn’t firmed up any plans. She is stressed out.
You might advise her to get outside, go for a walk, and look at some trees. Basically, spend some time in nature. We commonly think of nature as healing and soothing to our souls. Indeed, time in nature is a lifestyle factor correlated with positive mental health (Walsh, 2011). Even with anxieties related to climate change and environmental challenges, our connection to nature is important to our well-being.
In their Current Directions in Psychological Science article, Zelenski and colleagues explore how our connections to nature are related to our well-being and proenvironmental (or sustainability) behaviors.
The study of nature has roots in evolutionary psychology. The biophilia hypothesis posits that humans have an innate tendency to connect with nature, stemming from our ancestors who benefited from understanding their natural surroundings (Wilson, 1993). More recent theories suggest that nature restores our attention and produces positive emotions (Schertz & Berman, 2019), and activities such as forest bathing have become increasingly popular methods of reducing stress (Aubrey, 2017).
Decades of scientific study show that spending time in nature predicts a host of positive outcomes (Barragan-Jason et al., 2023). But are there individual differences in how people relate to nature?
Zelenski and colleagues define nature relatedness as “people’s subjective sense of connection with nature.” It is something we might develop as children, depending on our outdoor experiences, or learn from our pronature parents. However, we can enhance our connection throughout our lives.
One study found that even simply walking across a park-like campus (versus through a tunnel) increased nature relatedness (Nisbet et al., 2019). Like time in nature, nature relatedness is associated with many aspects of well-being, including life satisfaction, positive emotions, autonomy, and personal growth (Pritchard et al., 2020).
The research is clear that nature relatedness is personally beneficial, but is it socially beneficial? Does it encourage proenvironmental behaviors (e.g., avoiding fast fashion or taking public transportation)? Evidence suggests that the answer is yes. Zelenski and colleagues report that there might be a cyclical process at play. That is, spending time in nature makes us happy, which in turn enhances environmental behavior, which then motivates us to spend more time in nature, which makes us happy—and the cycle continues.
The authors offer some words of caution when discussing research on nature relatedness. Much of the research is correlational and does not warrant causal conclusions. Even when the research is experimental, nature relatedness is typically manipulated via exposure to natural settings as opposed to altering participants’ enduring sense of connection. Further, as environmental problems worsen, there might be downsides to nature relatedness, such as eco-anxiety. Even with these considerations, this is an important field to keep an eye on as it matures.
This article provides an opportunity for students to think critically about an issue with important personal (i.e., well-being) and societal (i.e., sustainability) consequences. To bring this Current Directions article to life, try one of the following activities.
Activity #1
Use this topic to reinforce basic research methodology. First, explain that research consistently shows that spending more time in nature predicts better physical health and happiness. Then ask students to address the following questions in small groups.
- Why is the research finding presented here correlational as opposed to experimental?
- What is the directionality problem inherent in the relationship between spending time in nature and physical health?
- What is the third variable problem inherent in the relationship between spending time in nature and happiness?
- How do experimental studies avoid the two problems mentioned above?
Activity #2
Use this topic to reinforce basic research methodology. First, explain that experiments that have manipulated nature exposure have found temporary improvements in mood for participants who walked in nature versus those who walked indoors. Then ask students to address the following questions in small groups.
- Why is the research finding presented here experimental as opposed to correlational?
- What are the independent and dependent variables?
- Why can an experimental study conclude that nature exposure causes better moods?
Activity #3
Have students complete the Short-Form Nature Relatedness Scale (NR-6) included in the article. Then ask the following discussion prompts.
- Have you ever considered your connection to nature? Why or why not?
- Did your scores surprise you at all?
- Research shows that we often get our nature relatedness from childhood experiences in nature or from our parents.
- What role did nature play in your childhood?
- Do you think your nature connectedness drives any of your pronature behaviors such as recycling or thrifting?
- Do you have any anxieties or fears about the climate or nature in general? How do you think these anxieties and fears impact your nature relatedness?
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Aubrey, A. (2017, July 17). Forest bathing: A retreat to nature can boost immunity and mood. NPR.
Barragan-Jason, G., Loreau, M., De Mazancourt, C., Singer, M. C., & Parmesan, C. (2023). Psychological and physical connections with nature improve both human well-being and nature conservation: A systematic review of meta-analyses. Biological Conservation, 277, Article 109842.
Nisbet, E. K., Zelenski, J. M., & Grandpierre, Z. (2019). Mindfulness in nature enhances connectedness and mood. Ecopsychology, 11(2).
Pritchard, A., Richardson, M., Sheffield, D., & McEwan, K. (2020). The relationship between nature connectedness and eudaimonic well-being: A meta-analysis. Journal of Happiness Studies, 21(1), 1145–1167.
Schertz, K. E., & Berman, M. G. (2019). Understanding nature and its cognitive benefits. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 28(5), 496–502.
Walsh, R. (2011). Lifestyle and mental health. American Psychologist, 66(7), 579–592.
Wilson, E. O. (1993). Biophilia and the conservation ethic. In S. R. Kellert & E. O. Wilson (Eds.), The Biophilia Hypothesis (pp. 31–41). Island Press.
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