Digital modalities, nature, and quality of life: mental health and conservation benefits of watching bear cams

ABSTRACT

Exposure to nature is correlated with improving mental health and pro-conservation attitudes. Emerging research suggests digital nature exposure may also produce these outcomes. This article used a qualitative approach to evaluate the impact of viewing wildlife-oriented webcams on mental health and pro-conservation attitudes. Data were obtained from 6968 online surveys. Viewers reported improvements in mental health, and positive changes in perceptions of nature and pro-conservation attitudes. Digital exposure to nature, via wildlife webcams, is capable of delivering positive improvements to individuals’ mental health and quality of life, as well as conservation outcomes. Ease of access and affordability positions wildlife webcams as a powerful tool to contribute to mental health and conservation efforts.

KEYWORDS:

• Accessibility
• Alaskan brown bear
• conservation
• mental health
• webcams

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.