https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4168-7289
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ABSTRACT
Exposure to green/blue spaces is associated with greater nature connectedness and feelings of restoration but the focus has primarily been on visual/auditory experiences. We explored the potential role of experiences of touch, through walking barefoot. Participants took part in a repeat cross-over experiment that compared walking barefoot vs. shod, in a public garden and beach environment. Barefoot walkers had higher connectedness and restoration than shoe wearers in both environments, though increased tactile experiences only mediated the relationship in the beach setting. Findings suggest that walking barefoot is a viable and low-cost activity to facilitating greater feelings of nature connectedness and psychological restoration.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Oliver Huddlestone for help with graphics, and Sarah Barrett (was Clarke) of Checkered Photography for permission to use her aerial image of the study’s location.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
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Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.
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Notes on contributors
Sophie C. Rickard
Sophie C. Rickard undertook this work as part of her MSc in Environment and Human Health, supervised by the second author. She is particularly interested in the effects of experiences of haptic and tactile touch in nature on connectedness and restoration and hopes to conduct more work on exploring the potential mechanisms behind this relationship and how to best create spaces and activities to improve both human and environmental health.
Mathew P. White
Mathew P. White is an environmental psychologist with a particular interest in blue spaces and mental health.