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Interactions with Nature, Good for the Mind and Body: A Narrative Review
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Interactions with Nature, Good for the Mind and Body: A Narrative Review

Dahlia Stott, DeAndra Forde, Chetan Sharma, Jonathan M Deutsch, Michael Bruneau, Jr, Jennifer A Nasser, Mara Z Vitolins and Brandy-Joe Milliron
International journal of environmental research and public health, v 21(3), p329
12 Mar 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030329
PMID: 38541328
url
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030329View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY V4.0,  Open

Abstract

Fruit Exercise Health Behavior Mental Health Vegetables
Interacting with nature may promote mental and physical health. There are multiple ways to interact with nature: indirectly, incidentally, and intentionally. How these types of interactions with nature may be associated with mental and physical health status and health behaviors is unclear. The purpose of this narrative review is to (1) describe the relationship between interactions with nature (indirect, incidental, and intentional) and mental and physical health outcomes and behaviors, (2) identify gaps in the literature, and (3) provide recommendations for future research. Considerable evidence suggests that interacting with nature, indirectly and intentionally, is associated with improvements in mental health and physical exhibitions of mental status. Furthermore, intentionally interacting with nature is associated with engagement in physical activity and gardening is associated with fruit and vegetable consumption. Research suggests that incidentally interacting with nature may be associated with positive mental health status. More research is needed to understand the relationships between incidental interactions with nature and physical health status and behaviors; as well as among all types of interactions with nature and physical health disorders, sleep, and dietary behaviors.

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6 citations in Scopus

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