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. 2023 Jan 25;20(3):2167.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20032167.

Nature-Based Therapy in Individuals with Mental Health Disorders, with a Focus on Mental Well-Being and Connectedness to Nature-A Pilot Study

Lilly Joschko  1 , Anna María Pálsdóttir  1 , Patrik Grahn  1 , Maximilian Hinse  2
Affiliations

Nature-Based Therapy in Individuals with Mental Health Disorders, with a Focus on Mental Well-Being and Connectedness to Nature-A Pilot Study

Lilly Joschko et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

In times of social and ecological crises, such as COVID-19 with lockdowns and implementing the impact of climate change, mental health degrades. Being outdoors in nature can be health-promoting, can decrease depression, and increase mental well-being. This pilot study investigated the relationships between nature-based therapy, mental health, and individuals' connectedness to nature. We hypothesize that nature-based therapy has a positive impact on individual mental health and connectedness to nature. A mixed-method approach was used to evaluate the effectiveness of nature-based therapy for young psychosomatic patients. The results demonstrated improvements in mental well-being and connectedness to nature through therapy. Additionally, depression scores decreased. Patients reported the importance of the therapist setting the space, the supportive environment, the poems that fostered the nature connection, improvement at the soul level, and overall doing something meaningful. Every patient experienced nature-based therapy as effective. To conclude, the study gives a first insight into the processes of nature-based therapy in the German population at work and the effectiveness of nature-based therapy. Further questions, e.g., season effects, longitudinal effects, and whether patients with low connectedness to nature gain more out of the intervention remain unanswered.

Keywords: depression; effectiveness; garden therapy; psychosomatic patients; stational care at hospital; young adults.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Visualization of the study design about how research was being conducted (including measurement tools, integrative therapy program, and time of the research).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The circle of logs where each nature-based therapy session starts is in the back of the garden. Image by: Lilly Joschko ©.
Figure 3
Figure 3
CONSORT flow-diagram: transparent records of participants for the study.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Linear mixed effects analysis. Model 2 predicting mental well-being (WOHL) by Treatment, Connectedness to Nature (CNS), and PHQ-D subscales for depression, somatoform disorders, and stress.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Experienced effectiveness, satisfaction, and improvements from nature-based therapy based on the self-rated post-testing questionnaire.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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