Mental health benefits of nature-based recreation: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

The demand for mental health services around the world has risen dramatically. Many researchers and practitioners are looking for alternative mental health treatments, including nature-based recreation. However, reviews examining nature-based recreation’s therapeutic effectiveness are limited. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of available research regarding the potential mental-health benefits of nature-based recreation. Following the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines, a global standard established to ensure consistency and quality in literature reviews, a systematic search generated 51 articles for review. Most articles (n = 46, 90%) observed at least one positive association between nature-based recreation and mental health, including improvements in affect, cognition, restoration, and well-being, and decreases in anxiety and depression symptoms. Trends regarding the setting, population, methodology, and theoretical orientation of existing research, as well as recommendations for future research, are discussed in this review.

KEYWORDS:

• Mental health
• nature-based recreation
• well-being
• systematic review

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 (nature-based tour* OR outdoor recreat* OR nature-based recreat* OR wilderness OR ecotour* OR forest bath* OR friluftsliv*) AND (mental health OR disorder OR psychosocial OR anx* ADHD OR attention deficit* OR depress* OR distract* OR attent* OR concentrate* OR sadness OR apathy OR mood OR stress* OR well-being OR wellbeing).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nancy Qwynne Lackey

Nancy Qwynne Lackey is a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Utah's Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Program.

Deborah A. Tysor

Deborah A. Tysor, Ph.D., is a professor at Clemson University in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management Department.

G. David McNay

G. David McNay is a Ph.D. student in the University of Utah's Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Program.

Leah Joyner

Leah Joyner is a Ph.D. student and teaching and research assistant in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism program at the University of Utah.

Kensey H. Baker

Kensey H. Baker, M.S. is a recent graduate of the University of Utah, and is currently working for A Walk in the Woods Adventures in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Camilla Hodge

Camilla J. Hodge, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of Park, Recreation, and Tourism at the University of Utah.