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The Bear Counseling Collective

Abstract

As mental health disorder rates increase and nature contact decreases in the general population, it is in the interest of public health to understand the impact of nature on mental health and social belonging, particularly in order to utilize these benefits most effectively and efficiently for intervention design. Estimates of mental health disorder prevalence indicate one in five adults is affected annually (CDC, 2023; NIMH, 2023), with rates of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress rising in particular among youth and young adults (CDC, 2023). Similarly, as rates of stress and loneliness increase, researchers and public health organizations alike are calling for more efficacious, non-invasive, and cost-effective interventions to support well-being (WHO, 2021). Moreover, it is estimated that 80% of the U.S. population lives in urban areas (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023) and spends nearly 90% of their time indoors (EPA, 2022). Meanwhile, researchers are increasingly finding that time in and exposure to green spaces and wilderness areas are strong predictors of physical and psychological well-being (Houlden et al., 2018; Twohig-Bennet & Jones, 2018).

Researchers have found that increased time spent in nature decreases stress-related biomarkers, including cortisol, and improves blood pressure and subjective well-being (Wen et al., 2019; Furuyashiki et al., 2019). While the physical health benefits of nature are widely acknowledged, less is understood about the psychological mechanisms and factors that underlie nature's promotion of mental well-being. Meanwhile, Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985; Ryan & Deci, 2019) provides a functional framework for understanding the mechanisms underlying the positive impact of experiences in nature on our well-being and mental health.

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